“You are dying. And there’s nothing we can do about it.” The doctor pronounced my death sentence that day in the cold, antiseptic room of the Garendan General Hospital. My parents had already known for days, and had been giving me looks of sadness and pity all week.
I had known something serious was up when I had injured myself in soccer practice, and they had done a routine blood test to make sure I had not gotten any infections. Instead, my white blood cell count was through the roof, and several weeks later and seemingly pints of blood given, I had been led, anxious and a cold sweat trickling down my back, into a hospital room with overly bright lights and a distracted doctor who spent ten minutes in silence, reading over his clipboard, over and over in a nervous attempt to drum up enough guts to tell me the inevitable truth.
I was dying.
His words fell like icicles down my spine. I felt like the floor was falling away into an abyss.
“I’m sorry son. I know there are doctors that try to sugar coat things. Tell their patients with this disease that they can still live full and happy lives. But” he pushed up his large coke bottle glasses back up to his discolored nose ” I’m not one of them. You have a grave illness. It is hereditary. It’s called Clarke’s Syndrome. Your body is basically building antibodies for itself. Your immune system is killing you. ”
Tears were filling my eyes. My parents came into the room. I looked at them with abject fear. They were crying as well.
“Is there - is there absolutely nothing you can do? There’s no hope?” I was grasping at any straw. Anything this heartless doctor could say. Why didn’t I get one of those compassionate doctors who would lie to you - build up a false hope for a cure? Anything!
He looked at me with those over large glasses. His eyes looked like something from a twisted comic book. Oversized and heavy lidded.
“As I’ve said to your parents. There is research going on to find a cure for your illness. But the going is slow - as I’ve read the findings. Clarke’s Syndrome is exceedingly rare, and there is not much attention from the pharmaceutical companies for rare illnesses like yours. I’m sorry. The best I can do is enter your name in a database for people with your illness. If something comes up, I can reach out to you.”
Don’t call us, we’ll call you. He was already closing the door to my crypt. I felt like puking, right there in his hospital room. Do something… anything!
“Aegis, we will find out more about this illness. We will do everything we can.” That was my dad. Always with him there was an answer. Solutions for him were easy to come by, as he always had the money to find the best experts. Well, dad. Here’s a challenge even you might find too onerous to solve.
“We love you, Aegis.” My mom said, sobbing. The way she said it, it sounded like I was already dead. I stared at the floor, dumbly.
“How much longer do I have to live, doctor?”
“Your illness is progressing more slowly than most cases. That is why you’ve been able to live a more or less normal life till 17. It’s hard to say. However, no one with your illness has lived beyond 20. There is something about when your body goes through the teenage years that accelerates the body’s immune system malfunction. You have at most 3 years. Maybe less.” With that, the doctor nodded to my mom and dad, and walked out of the room.
My dad came around slowly and placed his hand on my shoulder.
“We’ll find a cure, son. I’ve already made a number of calls. Don’t you worry.”
He didn’t sound like someone with hope. He sounded like someone with a dying son, who somehow, madly, had failed him. Somehow this was MY fault? Oh no dad. This was YOUR genetics. You, and mom’s.
The days and weeks passed. Somehow, everyone in my school had learned about my Illness. There was even a story about me in the news one night. “Billionaire corporate CEO’s son has rare genetic illness. Money is no object in finding a cure”
A great depression came over me. Obviously! Food lost it’s flavor. Friends began to find other places to be. My girlfriend Mina - at first defiant and steadfast in her faith that I would be cured - suddenly didn’t answer my calls and texts. And during school, she would always avoid me.
I was becoming invisible. A ghost before my time.
After a month, I dropped out of school. What was the point? I was no longer allowed to play soccer, one of the few highlights of my teenage years. The thrill of the competition - pushing yourself to the limit while seeing your team work together to defeat the opposing team. Fighting against impossible odds to pull out a victory at the last moment. That was being truly alive.
My coach had pulled me into his mostly unused office, three days after I was back at school and gave me the news. “The doctors say exertion might accelerate your illness. You’ve been banned from any school related sports. I’m very sorry son. You’re a great player. I’m going to hate to see you go.”
Of course he was. I was the star player. All coach wanted was a winning team. And I was no longer an asset, but a liability.
As the months passed, my father would enlist more and more doctors to poke and prod me. Each time they would meet me with grand promises of a cure, and that I’d be “right as rain” in no time.
Each one would fail. No blood test. No therapy. No miracle drug would even make the tiniest of difference. They would not even say goodbye. One day a new doctor would arrive to my father’s house, and we would “not speak” of the previous failures.
My mother and father grew more angry at one another. They would fight long into the night. Sometimes it was about me. Other times about all the money my father was spending on quacks and fake gurus. Apparently, there were some things money couldn’t fix.
I began to lose interest in going outside any longer. I lost myself in video games. At least there I could be alive. I could be powerful. And nobody would take pity on me.
One day I got a bruise on my arm. I didn’t remember hitting it on anything. It didn’t go away after a few days.
A trip to the doctor was the immediate consequence.
“I’m sorry son.” This new doctor was a kindly old man with a long white beard. He looked vaguely like a wizard out of one of my video games. I immediately hated him.
“This looks like you’ve reached a new stage in your illness. Your body is attacking itself more and more. You’re going to have to stay here, in the hospital, so we can monitor you.”
I didn’t even shed a tear. My soul had been crushed so many times now, the pieces were still lying in a dark corner under my bed. There was nothing this man could tell me that would make me “feel” anything.
I checked in the next day. At least the place was not all bright white lights and bleach smelling floors. My father had splurged on a nice hospital room with warm colors, a carpeted floor, and a special chef that would fix me anything I liked. Every day I would ask for some impossible dish, like spaghetti jello, or chocolate flavored pizza. Every day I would somehow get my wish.
I knew, the end was coming soon. I was tired all the time. I could see odd sparkles in my eyes when I looked a blank wall. I read. Ate. Played games. I was already dead inside.
Then one day Doctor Whismer knocked on my hospital room door.
“Hello, are you Aegis Goleman?” He was a tall man with a black goatee and an impeccably clean hospital uniform.
“Yes.” I said, not even looking up from my game. I was approaching level 100, and I wanted to see if I would be able to finally claim a castle for my own, in Dungeons and Dwellings.
“My name is Doctor Whismer. I found your name on the Clarke’s Syndrome database. I’ve spoken with your parents briefly, and I wanted to meet you in person. You see, I think we have a way to help you…”
I blinked.
My character died.
I looked up from the game. “How could you possibly help me? I’m already dead.”
Doctor Whismer smiled. He had great teeth. He looked like a mad professor, about to send his students on a crazy adventure across the ocean.
“We are conducting a new experiment with people such as yourself. Ones with Clarke’s Syndrome. We think we can dramatically extend your lifespan. Are you interested?”
I shrugged. Hope was a paper doll in the middle of a rainstorm. The drops would fall, and the paper would tear.
“Sure doc.” I said absently. “Sign me up.”
“This feels weird.” I said as the nurse hooked up yet another lead to my body. I was lying on my back in a pool of highly salinated water. I felt like Neo when he had just emerged from the Matrix, only in reverse. They were attaching wires TO me, instead of me breaking free.
I thought back to the few days before today.
“This therapy is highly experimental, and there is no guarantee of success” Doctor Whismer had said to my family. My mom and dad had made a special trip to the hospital, just to see me and Doctor Whismer at the same time. I felt special that day, because even my parents had been finding more and more reasons to be unavailable during visiting hours.
“But…” My father began.
“But… all our other patients have been showing very promising signs of remission. We’ve been able to reach an 80% suppression rate for their immune response.” Doctor Whismer gave another one of his disturbingly cheerful smiles. I swear, his teeth were so clean and white, they would distract me when he spoke. I often asked him to repeat what he had just said. I think he believed I was quite dull.
“Basically, we shut the body down, almost completely. No stimulus. No contact with the outside world. He will be sealed in an enclosed, carefully monitored environment while we turn off his immune system. No outside infectious agents, no chance of harm. But, Aegis, you will not be sedated. Instead we have created a state of the art virtual environment which will be tied directly to your brain. It will be designed to help you adapt mentally to your stasis.”
“But, how will I eat, and … you know” I looked down towards my legs.
Doctor Whismer gave me another disarming smile. “Don’t you worry young Aegis. We’ll take care of everything.” He patted my leg reassuringly.
“Is this - virtual world -” I began. “Is it some commercial game? Might I have played it before?”
Doctor Whismer stroked his goatee as he looked down at his phone. He chuckled lightly.
“I am sure you’ve not experienced anything like this, son. We’ve spent top dollar on the latest technology.”
My dad smiled. He knew what it was like to spend extravagantly to get results. My mother just nodded and pretended that she understood everything.
I knew she understood nothing. She just wanted a way out. A way to be unburdened by her sick child.
“How long will I be … under?” I asked. Inwardly a small spark of hope had glimmered. To be alive, to not feel like your life was draining away, like grains of precious sand from a broken hourglass.
“Well son, in an odd way not only will your disease slow down, you won’t age as fast either. This technology we are building is really being earmarked for eventual space travel. Imagine placing whole families in stasis for decades and waking up only feeling a few hours older!” He waved his hands dramatically like a carnival showman.
My mom and dad were convinced.
And so, there I was, getting hooked up to my POD. There were other PODs in the lab. Other people like me, I guess.
It was eerily reassuring to look over and see men and women in lab coats and clipboards. Touching panels, checking glucose levels. The faces in the pods were obscured by masks. Feeding air, nutrients, and light to bodies curled up in fetal positions.
I was going to join them in their journey.
I felt vaguely like one of those astronauts the Doctor kept going on about. I could not have a “real” life any more. I couldn’t run on the field, score a goal, hear the crowd cheer as we overcame the visiting team, but I could do this.
Perhaps I would die. But I was going to die anyway. At least perhaps I might advance their research in some way. And who knows? Maybe someday I might emerge from this POD with a cure.
The water was perfectly balanced to my body temperature. Outside of the odd pulling sensation of the leads all over my body, I felt like I was floating in space, instead of water.
A face came close to mine - blocking the soft light from above.
It was a woman. One of the technicians.
“Hello Aegis. My name is Martha. I am your lead technician. I will be here with you for the duration of your stay.”
She smiled.
I liked her.
“Are you comfortable? Any pain?” she asked lightly.
I already had a mouthpiece over my lips. I shook my head slightly, causing ripples in the thick salt water.
“Very good! The transition is a little … jarring. So don’t be too stressed. Remember, it’s just a simulation. You will always be perfectly safe. We’ll be monitoring you from those computers outside your POD. I think you’re going to like what we’ve come up with for you. It’s a space adventure. You’ll be the captain of a star-ship that travels the galaxy and explores endless planets. I’ve heard it’s quite thrilling.” Her eyes danced.
I nodded.
This program was designed for future astronauts, so naturally they had created simulations for space, and focused on exploration. I had chosen the most adventuresome of the selections. But secretly, I had wished for a fantasy setting. I felt more comfortable with a sword in my hand, over a blaster. Heck, it wasn’t even a game. There were no scores, no monsters, no levels. Just planetary surveys and atmospheric evaluations. I secretly hoped I didn’t die of boredom, instead of this disease.
Technician Martha tapped a syringe and injected it into one of the bags feeding fluids to my body. “Well Aegis. This is it! Have a great trip!”
Already growing sleepy, I gave her a weak thumbs up.
As my eyes fluttered closed, the world began to drift away. Voices grew more distant. All was peace.
Then. A flash. It was like a thousand car headlights turned on toward me all at once, then blinked off. I jerked involuntarily.
In the distance, I could hear alarms going off. People were shouting.
But it was far away from me.
Nothing to worry about. I said to my weary self.
Another flash. This time not just white like, but with colors. Words and sounds. Hot and cold.
Far, far away, I could hear Martha’s voice.
“Doctor Whismer! Come here immediately. Something is happening! His adrenal response is off the charts! We can’t abort! The system is not respon -”
Flash!
Boom!
Explosions filled my ears.
Lightning, thunder.
How could that be?
My eyes clicked open. I could see a sky roiling with grey clouds. Rain was coming down. Hard.
Rain?
I felt very odd. I could not move. It was like I was encased in concrete.
Only my eyes could see.
BOOM!
Another flash of lighting and thunder.
In the brief light I caught the outline of … something.
I heard the sounds of footsteps walking toward me. Squishing in the rain, and somehow rocky, like gravel.
A hooded figure stood over me. I was paralyzed. Fear tore at me from within.
There was no face in the hood, only two glowing red eyes piercing the darkness.
“Your father cannot save you now, abomination.” The voice was dead - flat and cold.
I could not move. Not even my eyes. I stared helplessly at the sky as the rain poured down on my face. The water blurred my vision.
The hooded figure moved. I heard the sound of rocks moving around.
The figure loomed over me. In it’s right hand it held … an arm?
It looked like the arm from a mannequin. It was whole up to the shoulder socket. Small wires and gears protruded from the end of the shoulder. It was sparking slightly.
The figure regarded the arm for a moment. Holding it like a weapon.
“Blasphemy. Dark magic. … Abomination!”
With the last word, the hooded figure swung the dismembered arm down at my face with all it’s strength.
BOOM!
Flash!
The world went dark.
I was floating … drifting.
Lost.
Thoughts were few and far between.
Like leaves floating on a quiet pond.
Drifting.
Quiet.
“Meow”
Meow? Was that a … cat?
Ripples in the pond.
“Meow”
Yes. That was definitely a cat.
Where?
I see it now. Standing on the shore of the pond … of my mind?
It was a black cat, with green eyes. It looked at me.
Who… am I?
‘You are Aegis. The shield. The protector.’ The cat seemed to say. It wasn’t moving its mouth.
I’m Aegis? Oh yeah.
‘Aegis. Much will be asked of you. You will be faced with challenges beyond even your own life. When you are lost, look for the sign of the cat. I will always be there. Take care my little shield.’
What? Shield?
The cat began to fade from my mind’s eye.
The cat…. Cat …. Cat…
[Cat - cat - catastrophic system failure. Automatic repair systems halted. Damage estimate at 80%. Unable to resume repair routines. Power at 15%]
What?
There was a strange voice in my head. Not … a cat?
[Catastrophic system failure. Aut aut automatic repair systems halted. Damage estimate at 80%.]
Damage estimate?
My eyes clicked open.
Clicked? Yes, that was definitely a click I heard.
Birds were chirping.
I blinked.
Click.
Yes, that was definitely a click.
My vision cleared a bit. Everything was staticy - like looking through a bad security monitor.
I was lying to one side. My … face? was lying against the cold, hard stone.
I could hear birds chirping. Was I … outside?
No, I could see stone walls. But … with bright sunshine.
So not outside, but not inside either?
Ah… my mind engaged.
Ruins.
I was lying at the opening in a wall. Like there had been a big explosion sometime in the past.
The far past from the looks of it.
There were vines growing along the walls. Rubble was everywhere. A broken chair lie just outside of my range of vision.
[Cat - cat - catastrophic system failure. Automatic repair systems halted. ]
The tinny voice in my head was … a computer? What system?
[System query. Automatic Electronic Generalized Information System : AEGIS.
System v0.01
Damage report …. All systems at 80% damage. Energy level 14%
Mana compensation at 0%
Automatic repairs halted due to lack of power.]
Mana compensation?
[System Query: Mana. Mana systems operate beyond logic parameters. Otherwise known as Magic.]
…
[Warning! Power at 12% and dropping. Cat cat catastrophic system failure immanent.]
I blinked. I heard something. It wasn’t birds.
Footsteps.
The rocky ground was crunching under someone’s feet. I remembered the hooded figure. Paralyzed. I could not move. I could not even “feel” anything. I was terrified.
Help! I cried inwardly.
[Assistance query. Help. Urgently need liquid water to catalyze battery restoration. Solar cells damaged. Seek water source.]
I could hear the footsteps coming closer. I heard humming. Singing. It sounded like a … girl?
[Seek water. Seek water]
““Wat - water.”” Some strange electronic voice spoke just beneath me. Was that - that me?
The humming stopped.
“Who’s there? Who said that?” It was the girl’s voice. She sounded terrified.
“Look, I’m just here to look for something to scavenge. I don’t want any trouble!” she stammered.
““Water. I. I. I need water””
Footsteps running closer, crunching the ground.
A face. In front of me. A beautiful girl, no older than maybe 17, leaned over and stared at me. She looked horrified. Her golden hair glowed in the sunlight. Beautiful ringlets.
I blinked.
cLICk!
“Eeeeeeeeek!” She screamed.
Her face left my field of vision and I could hear the sounds of footsteps racing away.
Great.
Just great.
Hours pass.
I close my eyes.
Guess I need to conserve energy.
I cannot move. I don’t even know if there’s anything there TO move. I cannot feel anything. Probably a good thing since if I had an itch, I couldn’t possibly scratch it.
[Power at 10%. Urgent action needed. Seek water. Seek water]
Yeah, I know. Sorry, voice in my head, but I can’t really do that right now.
How did I get here? What is going on? Is this the simulation? This is NOT a space sim.
I thrashed inwardly. What is this voice? It’s like some kind of computer system?
I chanced opening my eyes again. One eye was damaged, it seemed. Oh yeah. I was hit by a robot arm.
Something shifted within me.
That was … my arm!
Oh god. What am I?
[System Query. You are A.E.G.I.S. An autonomous humanoid golem. You were created by Kendranen Mir on Standard Date 1714.28. ]
Well, I didn’t really expect an answer. A golem? Why didn’t it say robot?
[System query: A robot is a lifeless automaton consisting of pure mechanism. A golem is a creation of magic and science imbued with a life force. Self is a golem.]
Oh. … Magic? Um…
I struggled to comprehend what was going on with me. I stared at the floor and walls helplessly. My life was slowly draining out of me. I couldn’t move. One eye was damaged. I guess somehow I was hallucinating, back in the POD. This was my brain’s way of dealing with me dying…
Oh well.
The girl was pretty though. Way to go, imagination.
[System Query: The human girl was not an imaginary construct. Ultrasonic radar confirms the human is approaching, once again.]
What?
I heard footsteps. Growing slowly closer. Two sets this time. One seemed heavier, slower.
“Look, dad!” The girl’s voice. “There it is! It - it spoke to me! It’s eyes moved!”
“Now, Clarissa. There’s been nothing here for fifty years. Looters cleaned out this castle decades ago. How can -” A man’s voice.
““Water. I. Need. Need. Need. Water.”” I managed. How was I speaking? I sounded like a drunk C-3PO.
“Oh my.” The man’s voice finished.
Rushed steps.
A kindly looking man with a balding head and wild tufts of white hair on the sides looked into my eyes. My world suddenly shifted dramatically.
Whoosh!
Ouhhhh. If I had a stomach I would have puked. He must have … picked me up? Oh god.
I could see all around me now.
Before me - holding me upright was the old man. He was squinting in the sunlight. Someone or something had done a number on this room. I could see heavy stone walls. I was near a rather large hole in the wall. Trees were everywhere outside, and a few even inside the walls. Above me the walls went up up up. A castle? I was just outside the ruins of some kind of heavy stone castle.
The girl, Clarissa? She stood close to her dad. She seemed both curious and fearful.
“What is it? A robot? He looks like he’s been chewed on by an ogre.” She said derisively.
I could tell she had a curious sense of humor.
She was wearing a pretty dress with red flowers on yellow. It was girly without being too frilly.
[System shutdown in twenty minutes. Battery at 5%. ]
“Please.” I croaked. “Water.”
The man almost dropped me.
Carefully, he set me down, against a ruined wall.
“Clarissa, get my water pouch off the horse. Go, quickly!”
“But dad! We don’t know what this is. What if it’s a .. weapon?”
“Not a weapon. Please help” I said.
“Go!” The dad yelled urgently.
Clarissa ran off in a huff, but came back with a leather pouch that had some kind of lid on one end.
“Where?” The man asked.
Where? I asked myself.
[System Query. Water delivery system at mandibular opening.]
““Mouth”” I said.
A moment later I could hear water gushing.
Something inside me CAME ALIVE.
I could hear servos moving. Gears clanking.
Was that. Steam?
[Water delivery successful. Processing…]
I felt something.
I felt something!
I was getting warm, deep inside.
I blinked several times.
Clarissa eeked, mutedly.
[Energy conversion commencing. Battery level at 14% and rising.]
“How’s that” The man asked.
“Thank you” I sounded better already. I guess my speech had been unmodulated to save power.
Moments passed.
[System update. Battery at 35%. Engaging automatic repair routines]
Suddenly, I became very noisy. Gears were grinding. Steam began shooting out of places, I couldn’t even see.
Then, like a blanket of life, of cold fire, fell over me all at once. I could FEEL. My body.
And it HURT.
“ARRRGH!” I cried out.
The man and girl stepped back, in fear.
I held up my hand.
MY HAND!
My right hand was metallic. It was partitioned like a lifelike robot, with joints and gaps where I could move my elbow and fingers. My arms were covered in strange shapes, almost like runes or tattoos. I looked at my own arm.
“Wait!” I said.
“Won’t hurt. Just in … pain.”
Another wave of intense pain racked my body. I screamed.
I looked at my other shoulder. Apparently I could move my head now?
There was only an empty socket where my left arm should have been.
I knew it.
I bit my lip. That’s new.
I looked down.
I was metallic, but also sinewy. My body looked bronze, with light and dark areas. Parts of me glowed with a greenish hue. However, while that was pretty seriously troubling, that was not the worst of it.
Below my stomach, where my legs should be, and … my butt? There was nothing.
If I was a doll, or a golem? I was pretty broken.
Another wave of pain - so so much worse than before - racked my body.
This is bad.
[Warning! System reboot in 10… 9… 8… ]
““Help -”” I managed before everything went black.
[System Message:
Reboot Complete.
Battery at 100%.
Mana reserves at 0%
Damage assessment incomplete.
Unable to access:
~Lower torso and legs.
~Left arm.
~Left ocular receiver is badly damaged. Recommend replacement at earliest convenience.
Significant impairment to motion and activity until repairs can be made]
“Uggggh” I had a tremendous headache. Someone turn off the droning in my head.
My eyes clicked open. I was lying in someone’s bed in a fairly small but breezy room. There was a curtained window that let in what must be midday sunshine. The curtains moved about in a cool breeze that danced across my face.
My face.
My golem face.
How could I be feeling this breeze?
[System Query: Feelings. Sensory and Mana sensitivity result of MagiTech components beneath outer shell. Sensory mode at 0 (normal)]
How was I doing that? Talking to myself? Were there two of me in my head?
[System Query: Spiritual / Mana / Mechanical Interface at Level 0 ( text only ) due to severe trauma and system resources dedicated to maintaining AEGIS.]
I took in a deep breath. I could smell complex odors. There was food being cooked in a nearby location. Outside the window I could hear the sounds of clopping – presumably horsed on cobblestones, and distant people talking.
I blinked several times. CLICK CLICK.
So, you’re the Interface?
[System Query: Interface at Level 0 (text only) due to lack of integration with Spiritual Entity residing in Host system. Further interaction required.]
Oh, so you’re the interface between me in my head, and this body. And it’s text only because I’m basically a baby again and I could accidentally blow myself up if started messing around with my system?
[System Query: you are a baby.]
My eyes opened wide! I did not expect sass from a command line.
I stretched out my hand ( the only one I have, apparently) and looked closely. It seemed to resemble a human hand very closely on the surface, but deep inside I could sense that there was a lot going on. I was human shaped, but definitely not human. I touched the place where my left arm should connect to my body and got a shock.
“Ouch” I said to no one in particular.
The door to the bedroom I was in creaked open.
A blond set of curls and a blue eye peeked through the opening. I grinned and waved. With a muffled “yeep” the curls disappeared as the door latched shut.
“DAAAAD! It’s awake! Come see!”
I cringed. it’s awake. Did I look that bad?
[System Query: AEGIS is designed to appear human. Current camouflage routines are offline due to lack of Mana.]
Well, whatever this Mana was, apparently I needed it. It must not be ambient, or from sunlight, otherwise I sensed that my battery system would be receiving it. Somehow I knew that between the solar cells somewhere on my body, and moisture collectors constantly feeding water to my … heart? I could maintain power indefinitely. How odd that I could just simply think about it and it was just there. I felt like a small boy trapped in a very large and complicated castle. And if I wasn’t careful, I could fall off a ledge or set the place on fire.
Was this really the simulation I was supposed to be in? Was this some surprise my dad set up? Telling me I was going to be in some boring space sim, and instead popping me into some kind of fantasy realm?
I smiled inwardly.
I had played so many video games after I’d been pulled out of school, and all other doors for activity had been closed for me. There were a surprising amount of soccer games, as well as role playing games, space battles, first person shooters, and more. I beat them all. My favorites were ones where you started out essentially a helpless newbie, and you became godlike in the end.
System, is there a list of my capabilities?
[System query: Capabilities. AEGIS is a sentient golem who’s capabilities are limited only by 3 factors: 1) physical and mechanical laws of nature 2) mana and magical sophistication 3) *** classified ***]
Classified? What the heck does that mean?
[System query: you are a baby]
I chuckled. So whomever created this golem … me … had a sense of humor. I could almost feel the presence of the person or persons who created this … simulation? They knew I would be curious. They were not going to give me all the answers right away. What fun would that be?
Steeling myself, I resolved to take this world at face value. To confront these challenges like I would any video game. This felt so … real.
I gazed at my mechanical arm. It looked like a work of art. Metal, with rune-like indentations all over it, but there were organic aspects as well. It felt so … alive! I could see wires and glowing parts near the joints. I had a sense that my body was waiting for something. For what?
Well, how about some legs and another arm for starters!
My attention snapped back to the room as Clarissa and her dad walked in hesitantly.
“Hello,” the man said. “My name is Gier. This is my daughter Clarissa.” he gestured to the beautiful girl standing next to him. She curtseyed unconsciously, then caught herself as she realized she had almost treated me like … a real person. She punched her dad in the shoulder.
“C’mon dad. This is not a person, it’s a robot. Why are you talking like -”
“I am a person” I said plainly.
Clarissa’s eyes went wide and her jaw fell open.
“How can - how can you be doing that?” She looked at her dad with a sly, knowing expression.
“You’re doing that, dad. How did you do it? You have some controller behind you?” She twisted around her surprised father - who was dressed in plain coveralls, with some kind of leather apron over them. He looked to be in his late 50′s - with white hair, slightly pudgy stomach, but kind eyes and an angular face that implied he’d been a powerhouse in his younger days.
He looked at his daughter walking around him and he raised his arms defensively.
“Whoah whoah, Clarissa. This isn’t me. I think this is a Golem.”
Golem. That name again.
“Yes. I’m a golem. My name is Aegis. Nice to meet you.” I held up my arm to shake his hand, but I got imbalanced by the sudden movement and fell over in the bed. I was lying sideways, my face half covered in blankets, and my arm outstretched on the bed.
A giggle burst out of Clarissa’s mouth. Both her and her father stepped forward to put me upright again, their initial fears somewhat allayed by my clumsy movements.
I grinned, despite myself. I should be pretty upset that I was … in pieces. But their kind faces and the sunny, bright room pushed away the shadows in my thoughts … for now.
“Let’s try that again, Aegis.” Gier said. He grasped my hand firmly and shook it. He then gestured to Clarissa. With wide eyes she looked at her father, then me. Tentatively, she held out her hand. I held it very gently.
“Thank you for saving me” I said.
She pulled her hand back as if she’d touched a hot iron.
“I didn’t do anything. It was my dad.” she muttered.
“You found me. I was … dying.” Could I die? What if my power had went to zero?
[System query: complete loss of power would result in loss of integration with AEGIS system. Spiritual energy would cease to exist.]
Well, THAT was scary. I almost did … die. But, I had been dying for a long time now.
“So, Aegis. Who or what are you? Where did you come from? Mir castle has been abandoned for over 50 years. Is that where are from?” Gier asked as he walked around to the open window. The breeze moved the curtains to brush his face as he peered out the window.
Mir castle? Wait, the Interface had said I had been created by a Kendranen Mir. What he the master of the castle?
I pursed my lips. “I don’t have any memory of anything before your daughter found me” I lied. I didn’t want to mention the hooded figure. Last thing I wanted to do was scare the two people who were showing me some kindness. But, I wondered if I was putting their lives in danger.
Already this game had its hooks in me, I realized. There standing before me were two people I would fight to defend, and I barely knew them.
[System message: You are THE SHIELD]
A shock went through my body. It was more than electric.
Something had resonated deep within me. Aegis. THE SHIELD.
Oh man.
“I know I was created by someone named Kendranen Mir. Does that mean anything to you?” I asked.
Both Clarissa and Gier took a step back from me. Their eyes were wide. Was that … awe? Fear?
“Please! Please don’t do that. What did I say?” I begged.
“That guy was our town’s wizard. He was very powerful. He kept us safe from all kinds of creatures and dangers from the Wild Woods and beyond. They called him Ken the Kind.” Clarissa said quietly.
“Was? Where did he go?” I turned my head sideways in question as I asked.
“Go?” Gier snorted. “He’d dead. Killed.”
Oh. Oh no.
“Do they know - do you know who did it? How did he die?”
The looked at me warily.
“They said the killer had glowing eyes” Gier said flatly.
“Listen, I -” I began.
At that precise moment the door to the room burst open and a reddish brown blur streaked to the bed. Clarissa shrieked and lifted her leg in surprise. Her exaggerated motions were almost funny, if it wasn’t for the huge brown animal now licking my face furiously.
“Wha - wha!” I raised my arm to defend myself, only succeeding in causing me to fall over once again.
Standing on my chest, licking my face was a brown Irish Setter dog.
Helplessly, I waved my arm and managed to say “urk”.
The dog set back on its haunches and barked 3 times.
[System alert: detecting mana source nearby. ]
Clarissa half laughed. She put her hand to her mouth and walked up to the dog. Without thinking she began to pet it and rub it’s back.
“What a pretty dog! Is it yours?” she asked.
I managed to push myself upright.
““I’ve never seen this dog in my life.””
[System alert: canine is known as Bud. Previous owner Kendranen Mir. Current owner: AEGIS.]
“His name is Bud.” I said suddenly.
“Wait, you just said you never saw this dog before. Which is it?” Clarissa put her hands on her hips and gave me ‘the eye’. I would be getting that look quite often, it seemed.
“Something … something told me.” I replied. I was getting more licks. I petted Bud’s head gently. That spawned three more barks and another lick bath.
“What do you mean, something?” Gier asked. He was half smiling at the dog’s antics.
“Look guys. You may not believe this, but until yesterday, I was just a normal” – NOT NORMAL - I remembered – “boy who was undergoing a … procedure for an illness. The next thing I know I wake up as this golem in the dirt and my body parts are missing. I don’t know where I am, or who you are, or … anything!” I was starting to yell.
Gier put his hands up placatingly.
“Listen son. It’s ok. Kendranen was a powerful wizard. Maybe those memories you have, maybe he put them there? Could you be some kind of experiment?”
I looked at him silently.
The dog sat back and stared at me with is glistening brown eyes. Something sparkled under his chin.
[System alert: presence of mana detected.]
Clarissa looked under the dog’s chin. “What’s this?” She cupped a blue glowing orb, attached to a collar.
“Dad! Come look at this!” she turned to her father excitedly.
Gier walked over to the other side of the bed and appraised the glowing orb.
“This was Kendranen’s dog.” I said. “Could that be some kind of magic charm?”
I was still processing the old man’s words. Could… could my memories be fake? Was I just imagining my former life?
NO.
I doubt a wizard in a fantasy setting could come up with something as unlike this world as video games, soccer, and daytime television. My life was REAL.
It was THIS life I was struggling to accept.
Gier was looking at me carefully.
“Look son. We are simple folk. My daughter was just snooping around – where she shouldn’t have been –” his last words were louder and he eyed his daughter, who looked down in shame.
“We don’t want to get involved in Wizard dealings.”
“I appreciate your help, sir. I have no one here. No one who can help me.” I replied.
Bud barked. More licking. Ugh.
Clarissa’s eyes danced. “Well, it looks like you have at least one helper.”
Gier gave her another “look” as if to say ‘don’t agitate the dangerous, possibly murderous golem’.
She quailed. “Are you hungry? Do you … eat?” she asked tentatively.
I turned to look at her. My broken eye was glitching out and I felt like I was looking through a snowstorm.
“I don’t think so. But I could use some more water.”
Her face lit up, and she bounced out of the room. Casting a “I told you so” look at her dad.
I petted Bud and managed to get him to lie down while I looked at the orb.
It was about the size of a marble, with an intense blue glow. It was held by a silver dragon’s claw attached to a leather strap that wrapped around the dog’s neck.
[System message: Alert! Mana source located. Connect to mana source? (Y/N)]
Oh. This dog had been owned by my creator. Would he be upset if I tapped into his dog’s magic necklace? Or, what if this was on purpose? Come to think of it, the leather strap didn’t look like a dog’s collar. It was too thin and loose. It was a wonder it hadn’t already fallen off.
I carefully started to lift the necklace from the dog. He looked at me with those brown eyes and whimpered. I couldn’t quite get it over his head.
“Is it ok boy? Ok if I borrow this?”
Bud licked my cheek.
Ok, here goes.
I had trouble getting it up off of Bud’s neck, with just one arm.
Clarissa had returned with a glass of water. She put the glass down on the table, bit her lip and reached over to lift up the necklace for me. She stepped back as it was freed up and looked like she would bolt at any moment. She had a pretty green dress on. It was plain, while seeming well cared for and tied with a white fabric around her waist.
“Thank you Clarissa.” I said kindly. She blushed.
Awkwardly, I managed to get the necklace over my own head and it dropped to my shoulder.
In my mind, I said ‘yes’.
At that moment, my life changed.
Literally.
Before that moment, I had lived as a boy in a human body, and now for a brief time I had lived as a boy in a mechanical body. Not too much different. I still thought of myself as “human”.
At that moment I connected to something that was beyond myself. Beyond … everything!
I could see and hear things from miles away. People talking. Monsters! Prowling around in the distant forest. Horses carrying large wagons just outside this cabin. My awareness ZOOOMED outward as if I was in a huge invisible elevator looking downward. If I had a human stomach, I probably would have lost the contents of it as the world shrank below me.
I could see the town, which was quite large, I guess for a medieval fantasy town. I could see the huge Castle Mir, farther away atop a very tall hill, almost a mountain. Then forest all around, until I could sense other towns and villages. But that was only one aspect.
I could ‘feel’ the life force in … everything. Clarissa and Gier , and even Bud looked in my eyes as glowing life forces. Each one a unique hue. I could “feel” the presence of hundreds of lives all around me - people, creatures, dogs, cats, birds, even bugs. It all crashed into my awareness at once.
I screamed in pain as my brain was ripped apart and reassembled in a new configuration. Time, space, life, death, I could somehow understand it all. In that briefest of moments, I sensed something else. Something dark. A void. Not just the absence of life, but it’s opposite. An un-life. I felt a deep anger. It hated. It wanted death. I shivered deep within. Somehow, it could sense me. A baleful eye opened in the cosmos. It cast about for me.
I cringed and withdrew myself from the orb. My throat hurt. I must have been screaming.
Gier and Clarissa stood there, almost quivering.
“I’m sorry” I said. “I didn’t know it would do that. I’ll stop screaming now.”
Despite her fear, Clarissa quirked a half smile.
“You really don’t know anything do you?” she asked.
Gier swiped a hand at his daughter’s shoulder. “Clarissa!”
“No no. It’s OK. And to answer your question. I know for sure that my memories are not artificial. I was a boy named Aegis. Now, I guess I’m a golem with the same name.”
There was a knocking at the cabin’s door. Apparently my screams had alerted the local police. A firm voice was questioning outside.
“Mr. Sarman? It’s the police. Can you come to the door please?” someone was saying.
Gier blanched. He put his finger to his lips and walked out of the door.
Something SHIFTED within me. OOHHHH.
[System alert. Mana reserves at 100%.
Perceptual mode : Map enabled.
Perceptual mode: Life Force enabled.
Automatic camouflage engaged. ]
I felt a strange pulling sensation. Like when you get a blood draw. ( I had that happen so often, it was a common feeling for me. ) I looked down at my arm. My eyes grew wide.
Skin. I saw pink, fleshy skin!
Had I been changed back into a human? Frantically I looked at my left shoulder. No arm. I pulled my sheets back without thinking. Normal chest, belly button. And then … nothing below.
Clarissa acked and turned her head away.
Hastily I covered myself again. “Sorry” I said.
Wow, even my voice sounded different.
“How… how did you do that?” Clarissa peeked at me through her fingers with her hands on her face.
I made a half smile.
“I don’t know? Magic?”
It was at that moment that two blue uniformed policeman burst into the room, with a very nervous Gier behind them. Clarissa backed away to the wall.
“What is this? Who are you? Why were you screaming?” The first officer said as he pointed a baton at me.
I Looked at Gier and Clarissa helplessly.
Bud barked.
“I - I” I began.
“He’s my cousin!” Clarissa chimed in. She seemed to gather her wits and stood in front of the policeman, bravely.
She inhaled. “This is my cousin, Aegis. He was telling me a story of how he lost his arm in the Wild Woods. He was screaming like he did to scare away the Goblins. They injured his arm and it had to be … amputated.” She looked downward, the picture of sadness. I was impress with her quick thinking.
“Yes.” I agreed. “It was terrible. I almost didn’t make it out of there alive.” I added.
The policeman looked taken aback. He had seemed to be ready to rough me up and take me in to jail … for screaming?
“I’m terribly sorry, uh young man. When we heard the screaming, we thought perhaps it was another robbery. There have been a rash of small crimes lately in this part of town. It’s our job to investigate.” He was rubbing his hands together nervously. The baton fell to his side.
“You see, officer. There’s obviously no crime going on here. Especially with a cripple like that” Gier said as he slowly stepped between myself, Clarissa, and the policemen.
They gave me another long look. Tipped their hats like they were on some kind of sunny excursion, and left without another word.
As they left the room, Clarissa collapsed and sat at the foot of the bed, letting out a big “whoosh” of breath.
“Thank’s Clarissa. I owe you one.” I said quietly.
She turned suddenly and eyed me suspiciously. “Don’t think that I’ve accepted you as anything more than some kind of creature created by wizards. For all we know, you killed your master as he tried to destroy you.”
Taken aback, I stared at the dog, who whined slightly and put his head on my chest.
“I’m sorry you think that way. But know this. I would never hurt Anyone. Least of all the one who saved me.”
She blushed. “Stop saying that. I didn’t do anything. All I did was get my dad. And it was you that got ME in trouble.”
“Oh? How did I do that? I couldn’t even move.”
She pursed her lips. “I … wasn’t supposed to be snooping around there. The area around Mir Castle is forbidden. I was just looking for …” She looked up at me, into my eyes. She realized she was talking to a golem, I guess because her eyes widened and she frowned. “Oh, why am I even talking to you? You’re causing me and my father a lot of trouble!” She stood up, her arms stiff at her sides.
“Thank you for the water.” I answered.
That seemed to let some steam out of her anger.
“Your welcome.” Without turning back to look, she walked stiffly out of the room.
I carefully reached for the water and took a drink. It seemed to refresh something inside my mechanism. Without thinking I offered some water to Bud. He galluped the water thirstily, splashing it all over the bed in his enthusiasm.
“Geeze, dog. You must have been thirsty!” I wondered where he had come from. If my creator was dead 50 years ago, how could his pet dog still be alive? Bud didn’t look older than say 3 or 4. Something was odd. And how did this dog know I was here, or even that I was a friend?
I heard Gier and Clarissa arguing in the other room, and I flashed back to my parents fighting over me. Over medical bills. Over expenses. I cringed inwardly.
[System alert. AGEIS acquisition of Mana source has unlocked two new perceptual modes. As well as a new Interface mode. Switch to audio Interface mode? (y/n)]
“Audio mode? Like you can talk to me? Sure…. Uh YES”.
Hello AEGIS
I nearly fell out of the bed. There was a voice … inside my head. “Text” mode was like reading something on the chalkboard in my mind’s eye. This was like a …. Someone … was in my head.
“Hello … Interface?” I said querulously.
Congratulations. You’ve managed to secure a Mana source. That’s excellent.
“Um, gee. How is it that you are suddenly so chatty. Before you were like a … computer.” I asked.
Text interface mode is for low power, and thus low AI demands. Think of it like a very basic , low level way of talking. But now, you’ve got power and Mana galore! I have reactivated my AI routines and I’m ready to assist you.
The voice sounded not very much unlike a character in a movie I watched once. It was a superhero with a suit that had an AI built into it. This simulation - if it really was one - was getting better all the time.
“Can you … can you tell me who I am?” I asked.
Well, even in text mode, I told you you are a creation of Kendranen Mir. You are a golem. A sentient being fused to a mechanical body. You are the pinnacle of your creator’s research. You are a fusion of Magic, Science, and Spirit. Well, we are.
“Yes, how does this work, are you a separate entity -”
The door opened again.
Gier walked in again. He was pushing something in front of him as he came around to the bed. He had an odd look on his face.
“I’m sorry for all the trouble mister Sarman.” I began.
He waved his hand dismissively.
“Don’t mind the police. Those characters are busybodies who try to pry into everyone’s business. They mean well, but they are often two or three steps behind when it comes to discovering what’s going on in this town.”
“I have something for you. I’m not sure if you can use it, but it was my wife’s” he pulled the cover off the object he had pushed in. It was a wheelchair.
Oh. My.
My mind flashed back to the hospital where I had spent so much of my recent life. Wheelchairs were everywhere. I had spent too much time in those devices - when I should have been walking … running … playing soccer.
My eyes closed and I made a fist.
“That’s quite a trick you’ve done there. Masked your appearance. Can you conjure up some new legs?”
I shook my head. I had no idea how I was generating some kind of illusion to make me look like I had normal skin, hair, and face. It must be just built in - like a reflex.
“That’s too bad. Well, until you find a way to get around, would you like to try this out? Like I said, it was my wife’s” His face darkened and he looked at the floor.
“She was ill for a long time, before … before she passed. But she was a kind soul, and I bet she wouldn’t mind if you used her wheelchair. She would probably have given it to you, even if she’d still needed it.”
I looked up at Gier’s face. His eyes were glistening.
“Thank you. This is all very kind of you. Why are you doing this?”
Gier rubbed his chin , pondering his answer. “You see, boy. My wife wanted to have children for a long time. Finally, she was able to have Clarissa - but she died in childbirth. I can only assume that this wizard had a similar issue. He wanted children. Perhaps you were his path to having a legacy. So, I think my wife would want me to help out any child, no matter who, or what they are.”
“I understand. Please listen when I say I have no idea who killed my creator. And I would never harm anyone. As a matter of fact” – a deep pang struck me from within as I thought of this – “I think I was created to … protect people.”
His eyes grew wide.
Bud barked. I petted the dog absently.
“Do you … could you get something for Bud here? He seems kinda hungry, and … thirsty. I looked down at the wet sheets.”Sorry”
Gier gave me an appraising look.
“Clarissa! Get something for our friend’s dog.” he called to the other room.
“Okay!” I heard back.
He pushed the chair close to my bed and turned it around. I had done this so many times in the hospital, I pulled myself across the bed, grabbed the arm of the chair, and - wow! - lifted myself effortlessly on to the chair. Apparently I was very strong.
Gier nodded , his mouth slightly open in wonder.
I propped myself against the back of the chair and used my arm to move the wheel. I was awkward at first, but after a few moments, I was moving around the room.
Clarissa walked into the room with two bowls and nearly tripped in surprise as she saw me move around in the chair. A mix of emotions crossed her face as she saw the chair her mother used being driven by another person, but also seeing me moving around, I wonder if she felt I was more threatening.
Bud barked and came up to Clarissa, whining and sniffing. Gier gave her a knowing look and she lowered the bowls on the floor. I rolled up behind her. It made me more than a little sad to think that I would probably never have a girlfriend again. Clarissa, with her exaggerated emotions and golden curly hair , seemed like a really nice person. But I guess maybe I could try to be friends.
“What do you think?” I asked.
She yelped a bit and turned around. She looked at me, then at the chair.
“Does this mean you’re going to leave? Have you gotten what you wanted?” Her lip quivered a bit.
“Do you want me to leave?” I looked into her eyes.
“Whatever.” She walked out.
“Aegis, don’t take it too hard. Clarissa has had a hard life without a mom. Give her a little time.” Gier said.
I nodded.
Aegis. Something is going on outside. There is a disturbance.
“Something’s happening outside” I said.
Gier walked to the window and peered out. I rolled over to the window myself.
When I looked outside, I saw a busy street. This town was fairly large - when I had looked down on it during my Mana episode, I thought it looked like a mini - london esque town. There were tall buildings mixed in with one and two story cottages. The roads were cobblestone and seemed wide enough to fit two horse drawn wagons going side to side. There was a lot of smoke in the sky, and what appeared to be factories in the distance.
There were people of all walks of life travelling along the sidewalks. Men and women in expensive clothing walking alongside more common people with rough clothing, pushing carts or mothers walking with children. There was an air of festive energy in the eyes of the people walking by. Except for the folks shrinking back from two rather large, dirty street thugs accosting an old man.
“Hey old man!” I heard them - even from across the street, as they were yelling.
“It’s time to pay up! Our boss doesn’t take too kindly to his tenants not paying what money is owed us!” Yelled a rather greasy looking man with straight black hair and scars across his right eye. He was palming a sword tucked into his belt.
“Please! Tell Mr Brighton I’ve got the money! I just need to finish today’s work and I’ll get paid.” The old man was holding up his arms - as if to defend from the street thugs.
“If you don’t got the money right now, then there’s going to be hell to pay.” The other thug snickered. He looked scrawny and weaselish, but his eyes were piercing.
Other townsfolk stopped in their tracks as the thugs menaced the old man. Children cried as mothers yanked them away. Where were the police now?
The larger thug pulled out his sword.
“We’re going to take it out on your hide! Heh he he!” He struck the old man with the flat of his sword. The man fell - blood on his forehead.
A sense of anger came over me that I had never felt before. Sure, I had gotten mad about injustice, or about people getting hurt, in the past. But that had been an intellectual thing. Something for OTHER people to fix. I was just a helpless bystander.
But now, I could feel the outrage building within me.
Warning Aegis. Those two men appear to be attacking that man.
“You think?”
Gier looked at me. “What are you doing?” he asked as he saw me begin to wheel out the bedroom door.
“I’m going to protect that man” I said.
“You’re gonna regret the day you was born!” The weasel-looking thug sneered at the fallen old man. Bleeding from his face, from the edge of the sword, the man clasped his hands and begged for mercy.
“Please! Just let me get the money from my work! I have a sick wife. I’m the only who can wo-” The larger thug swiped his hand and struck the old man across the face.
“Shut up! We came here for money or blood! And it looks like you’re out of money!” the greasy one said.
He raised his hand again.
“Stop.” I said. I was rolling across the cobblestone road. My arm worked furiously as I approached the old man.
“Well well well. What’s this? A cripple defending an old man!” Greasy hair guffawed.
“Please, don’t come near them. They are from the street gang that rules this neighborhood. Please, just go” the old man managed to say to me. He was trying to save me. From these … vermin.
The weasely one walked up to me and stopped my wheelchair with his foot.
“You should take the old man’s advice boy. It’s the last he’s ever going to give!”
I highly advise you to remove yourself from this situation, AEGIS. Our options are severely limited, and our mobility is -
“Shut up” I said, to everyone.
I pointed to the old man. “You! Are you ok? You’re bleeding.”
He looked at me with pleading eyes. He had lost hope. And in his eyes some insane crippled boy was going to get hurt as well.
I saw out of the corner of my eye that Clarissa and Gier had stepped outside their house. She was looking at me with wide eyes, her hand to her mouth.
“Shut up? Did you just tell me to shut up?” Greasy man said. He sauntered up to me.
Good. He wasn’t paying attention to the old man now.
‘Interface. What are my options. Do I have any weapons inside me?’
AEGIS, in some ways, your whole body is a weapon. There are several routines for hand to hand combat. But I highly advise …
“Ah ah ah” I said.
Greasy man was taken aback somewhat by my audacity.
“What’s with you boy? You have a death wish? Tired of wheeling around like a worm?” Greasy said.
Weasel laughed.
The old man took a step backwards.
Greasy turned to him
“You! Stay right there. We’ll deal with you after crazy worm boy here gets a lesson in manners!”
I could feel the power welling up within me. I KNEW this was the right thing. I gripped the chair so hard the metal started crushing under my grip.
“Yes, greasy. Teach me a lesson.” I said calmly as I stared into his eyes.
Something about the way I looked at him made him shiver.
“C’mon man! The boss is waiting. We need to kill this old man and get out of here!” Weasel said.
How could I be saying what I thought I would say? Was I crazy after all?
“Over my dead body” I said quietly.
“Nuuhhh!” Greasy swung the flat of his sword at me. I think his intention was to knock me out of the chair. Probably would kick me then and mock me.
Not. Going. To. Happen.
Like a coiled spring, I struck.
As his sword came close to me I reached out with my only hand and gripped the sword so hard the blade collapsed under my hand. I used that leverage to launch myself toward the greasy man and hit him head first with my forehead.
My whole body shook with the force of impact and I heard a crunch as his nose collapsed beneath my metallic head. Blood burst from his face and I spun away - pushing with my torso to uppercut him in the chin. Tumbling, I landed on my hand - balancing my body … impossibly with one hand with splayed out fingers. I was upside down but fortunately my illusion had thought to give me pants.
Greasy man fell back and hit the ground hard. His face was a bloody mess. The ruined sword clattered to the pavement.
All eyes were on me. Weasel man, old guy, bystanders, Gier, Clarissa. Everyone.
I lowered myself to the ground and lifted my hand to Weasel. I beckoned him with my fingers.
‘Neo would be proud’ I thought to myself. While I stayed calm on the outside, internally I was ecstatic. I could DO this! What in the heck WAS I?
Well, AEGIS, this is unexpected. My Interface said dryly.
“Damn right it is.” I said out loud.
I was a spirit trapped in a robot body with only one arm and no lower half, but at that moment I never felt so alive. So RIGHT.
Footsteps sounded behind me. Gasps from the bystanders caused me to glance backward. The police were running toward our little encounter. That’s just GREAT. Where were they 10 minutes ago?
In that moment of distraction my weasel friend pulled what looked like a gun. It had an odd appearance – strangely misshapen. Like a cross between a flintlock gun and a small hair dryer.
Caution, AEGIS. That weapon can fire metallic projectiles. While it won’t harm you, it could ricochet and hurt a bystander.
I nodded.
“Look man! I don’t know who or what you are, but you’ve messed with the WRONG gang!” He turned abruptly and fired at the old man.
NO!
I launched myself instinctively to put myself between the bullet and the man, but it was already too late. The bullet ripped into the man’s side and I went sprawling and hit the wall of the nearby building.. Hard.
Warning! Impact has damaged your internal calibration systems. Advise retreat immediately! Interface warned.
The police arrived, they also had those strange hair dryer looking weapons.
“Halt!” They yelled.
The weasely one looked down at the old man, bleeding. And then to his friend who was out like a light and bleeding himself. He sneered.
“We’ll be seeing you - worm!” He yelled and took off running.
“Stop!” Called one of the policemen, he took off running after the thug. The other rushed to the old man’s side. People screamed and scattered at the first shot.
Gier and Clarissa ran across the street as the second thug escaped. Gier knelt down and lifted me upright.
“Ughghgh” I said. Rubbing my head.
Clarissa knelt down as well, she put my face in her hands.
“Are you ok? Are you hurt?” she asked. Her eyes were full of concern.
“That was a brave thing to do, son.” Gier said as he glanced over at the fallen thug. More police were arriving.
He looked me in the eye — “Brave, … or stupid” he quirked a half smile.
“Both.” I said wearily. “Definitely both”
One of the policeman was the same as before. He walked up to me as other men in uniform were already lifting the unconscious man by his shoulders.
“Will he be ok?” I called to the men.
“Oh he’ll be fine. Can’t say the same for old man Roddins.” The officer said sadly.
“Oh!” I sat up and looked over at the old man. He wasn’t moving. Two officers were kneeling over him. One reached down and closed the man’s eyes.
“NO!” I cried.
NO! This was NOT how it was supposed to happen! I was supposed to show off my incredible skills, beat the thugs, and win the girl! Instead, I nearly killed the first thug, the weasely thug had killed the old man, and had gotten away anyway! What kind of crappy game was this?
Gier walked back to me, his face a stony mask.
“Aegis, I convinced them that you had acted in self defense. They will probably want to question you later but they are going to let me take you back home. Promise me you won’t kill anyone before we get back to the house.”
I cringed. I looked over at Clarissa. She was looking at me with a mixture of awe, fear, and maybe something like respect? I had really messed this up.
“Yes, mister Sarman. I understand.”
After lifting me up onto the wheelchair he pushed me back to their house. People avoided us as we crossed. The crowd that had gathered because of the disturbance parted like some kind of biblical sea before my Moses of mortification.
After we entered the house, Gier helped me to my bed and left without a word. Bud jumped on my bed and lie at the foot - whining quietly.
The day was growing darker. I spent the rest of it looking out the curtained window and learned that golems can cry.
Golems don’t sleep, apparently.
The room grew dark as the copper sun set in the evening. Gas lights came on along the street - at first making me think the place was on fire, but either by magic or some automatic spark - the lamps lit up the streets outside - while people hurried home to their husbands and wives.
Only, one particular wife was in for a long wait.
AEGIS, you have been very quiet since the altercation with the men outside. Have you lost the ability to communicate? The Interface asked.
“No. I’m just… Sad.”
Are you distressed about the death of the man you sought to defend, but failed at the critical moment?
“YES!” What a way to throw salt in the wound …
AEGIS, you realize that there were at least 20 overwhelming factors against you. Beginning with your own damaged state, your lack of weapons and experience, the motivations of the criminals against that man, the fragile state of the victim ….
“I KNOW” I yelled. It was evening and the Sarman’s were probably about to go to sleep - I immediately regretted the outburst.
And yet, as you say, you are sad. Why? The probability of success against such odds was less than 15%
“You don’t get it.” I whispered.
Get . It? I’m sorry my speech parser does not understand those combination of words. Was there something we needed to procure?
I held my face in my hand.
“‘You don’t get it’ - is the same as saying ‘you don’t understand’” It was easy to forget I was talking to a machine, no matter how intelligent it seemed.
If you were aware of the odds of success, why did you attempt to save that man?
I sighed.
“I - I - thought this was a game.” I managed to whisper.
… Processing …
You believe that you were performing some sort of recreation? Our sensory devices did not find any patterns matching any known games or other recreational opportunities in the situation across the street. Are we perhaps more damaged than I have currently estimated?
The Interface sounded puzzled. And … worried?
“No. Your perceptual gizmos and AI patterns were accurately modelling the situation. I meant, I thought I was in a game. That this” – I gestured to the darkened room – “All of this since I’ve awakened, was some sort of game. I am not from this ‘world’. I’m from a world with televisions, video games, and movies. I’m supposed to be in a space simulation.”
… Processing …
I’m sorry. I am unable to understand your statements. Request permission to access your memory engrams
I blinked. CLICK
“Um, will it hurt me? Will I lose those memories?”
Negative. I will convert memory patterns into training algorithms for my AI subroutines. You will not get … hurt
“Oh well. Knock yourself out.”
Agreed. I shall go offline for the duration of the memory acquisition and training
“No! Wait!” I reached out with my hand to the darkness, futilely.
Nothing.
For the first time since I had been “reborn” I was alone. Completely alone.
I laid back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
The light from the gas lamps outside, and the occasional clopping of a horse drawn carriage doing who knows what so late at night lulled me into some kind of trance.
Despite sharing a “mind” with an intelligent AI all this time, I was still very sad. And now alone.
I had failed. Failed that old man. Failed Clarissa and Gier.
Failed myself.
And for what? So I could swagger around in a metal body and kill people with a touch? Did I .. did I kill my creator? Was I a monster in this world? What the hell was going on?
“I wish I had someone to talk to.” I whispered. Maybe that would recall Interface.
Something stirred at my chest.
Bud, who had jumped down off the bed, but was still close by, woofed in his sleep.
The necklace. It was … buzzing. I could feel it vibrating against my chest. The room was growing brighter with a clear blue light. What did I do?
‘Interface, help!’ I whispered.
~Interface … as you call it … cannot hear you right now~
WHAT. WAS. THAT!
I had heard a voice. A woman’s voice. But, it wasn’t in my head, and it hadn’t been a sound. It was like having a daydream and hearing a conversation across a wide open field.
A beam of light shot out of my necklace. I clutched at it - trying to get it off, but the strap seemed glued to my body.
The beam was like a moonbeam on steroids. It was filled with glittering particles, all different colors, yet the light was blue. I laid there mesmerized as the particles danced and formed all kinds of different patterns. Shapes, words, sounds? Smells? Was I having some kind of psychotic break? I wondered if I was still actually lying in that salt water pool back in my world, and they had just administered some kind of drug to wake me up.
“Sorry doctor. It’s not working” I whispered.
Suddenly the sparkles and light … gathered? Coalesced?
Floating above me was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. She had a round face, with almond shaped eyes, framed by short curly hair that splayed out impossibly far - like she was underwater or something. She was dressed in … light? It looked like a flowing gown, like almost a sun dress , and it moved like a gentle breeze was flowing, but the room was still. The curtains didn’t move.
She chuckled and put her hand to her mouth as she smiled. She was very cute. I felt extremely vulnerable and self-conscious all of the sudden.
~I’m no doctor. Though I AM here to help you, Aegis.~
I rubbed my eyes. Why did I do that? They were mechanical. Plus, one was still seriously glitching out. My vision would go from 3d to 2d as my eye would try valiantly to keep working, only to wink out. It was seriously damaged.
“Who are you? How do you know my name?”
~I am … Bright. Yes, that is my name. That is what HE called me~
For a moment the light within her flared. The room suddenly became filled with blue light. She was like a fiery blue sun. I squinted. My damaged eye blinked out. It was kaput.
The light faded suddenly. Her hand was to her mouth again and she looked worried. She was just so cute when she did that. My heart fluttered.
~Oh! I’m sorry. I damaged you~
In a heartbeat she had zoomed up to me - filling my view with blue light, and her face. She touched my eye. Or at least her hand overlapped my eye. She was like a ghost.
A shock rang through my body. It was like someone had taken a spear and shoved it through my eye and out the back of my head.
“OUCH” I cried out.
~Oh, I’m so sorry. I’m not very good at this, I guess~ she drifted back slowly. Her arms were bent toward her face, almost like in prayer. Her eyes were closed.
“No, wait! Don’t go! Oh.. wow! You fixed my eye? How? How did you do that?” I asked, bewildered.
I was blinking furiously. For the first time since I had “arrived” my vision was clear. No static. No 2d - 3d shifting. I looked at her as if for the first time. She looked like a fairy, or a ghost princess?
She looked at me shyly. She was smiling. Her mouth was small compared to her face, but her lips were like a little bow. I realized I’d do just about anything to keep her smiling.
~That was magic. As I said, I’m Bright. I’ve missed you Aegis. You seem … different somehow. More alive.~
“Different? I’m the same person I’ve been since I got here yesterday. Or was it the day before?”
Bright looked surprised.
~Yesterday? You say you’ve only been here since yesterday?~
“Uh huh. Is that … a bad thing?” I looked down at Bud. He was sound asleep. So much for being a watch dog.
Bright giggled.
~No no. That means … HE did it. He found you.~ she smiled and drifted down to the foot of the bed. She appeared to be sitting, but her dress and her … body … imperfectly overlapped the fabric. It was like she was a hologram.
“Are you real? Am I just imagining you? Who’s HE?”
~So many questions. But I guess that’s to be expected. ~ she turned to look at me with serious eyes.
~HE, is our creator. Kendranen Mir. The wizard you made you, and … me~ She pointed to herself with two thumbs and grinned, showing perfectly blue-white teeth.
My jaw dropped.
“He MADE you? But you’re a girl. Like a floating space princess.”
She giggled again. Oh man.
~You have such funny words.~
She sat up straight, and pursed her lips. Gesturing with bent arms like she was pretending to be some serious old man.
~Bright, you are a construct of magic and life. You are the Mana source for Aegis. You complement his Spirit and Golem parts. I trust you to keep him from falling down a well or blowing up the castle~
She glanced at me with mock seriousness - her eyebrows frowning and her lips downward in an exaggerated face like a two year old might mock her serious father.
Then, her whole body brightened and she clutched her stomach and laughed. She was so bubbly and cute. Her light flared as she laughed.
“So, you’re like a fairy in the necklace?” I asked
She arched an eyebrow.
~I’m no fairy. I’m a gazillion times more powerful than some ole dumb fairy. And I’m not in the necklace. I’m in the castle. The necklace is a .. a .. in - ter - face.~ She struggled to find the word.
A thrill of excitement flowed through me. What the heck was this? So, now I had a magical girl ghost as a source of mana?
I heard a clunk outside the door. A brief glance outside revealed that the morning sun was starting to peek over a distant building. Had I really been up all night? Ughhhg.
Bright jumped at the sound like a startled cat. She flew toward me and drifted nose to nose. Her little nose was slightly upturned. My heart melted.
~Listen AEGIS. You have to come to the castle. This necklace won’t last too long without recharging from the source. ~
“What’s the source?”
She bopped my nose. I FELT THAT!
~Me, silly. ~ She smiled and turned her head sideways, like a dog hearing a high pitched whistle, then disappeared in a cloud of colored sparkles - like a huge bag of glitter just exploded all over me.
I coughed.
The door opened slowly.
Golden curls.
“Can, can I come in?” I heard her say.
“Um, yeah.” I suddenly felt very self conscious. Like I had been caught doing something I shouldn’t have. Why was that? I realized my sadness had abated. Bright was … incredible.
She walked in tentatively, then her face became serious and she pressed her arms to her hips like an angry mother. She had on - not a dress at all, but what could only be what passed for pants in this world, a plain white shirt, and a leather vest. She looked like some kind of pirate queen or Lara Croft adventurer. I was very surprised.
“So,” she said accusingly. “Who have you been talking to all night?”
“I … uh.” My mind drew a blank. Clarissa’s presence was so disarming. And she looked completely different from the girl I saw yesterday. She seemed more … confident.
“I was basically talking to myself. You see, since I’m a golem, it’s like I’m some kind of spirit inhabiting this mechanical body. There’s some kind of … entity which I can talk to which tells me about the body.”
“Oh? Is it another person? Are there … two of you in there?” She closed one eye and leaned forward with a searching expression on her face.
“N- no. It’s more like a servant. It doesn’t have a will of its own. It’s meant to help me … interact with the world.”
Clarissa came and sat down at the foot of the bed. Bud jumped up and licked her face.
“Bleah! Your dog is so … friendly.” she said between licks.
I laughed.
“He seems to like you.” I replied.
“Yeah, kinda too much!” She smiled.
I was caught off guard. Wasn’t she angry with me? Disappointed? I was confused at how she was acting toward me.
“Clarissa, can I ask you something?” I brought up my hand.
“Um? Sure.” Her eyebrows raised in question.
“Are you mad at me… about , you know, yesterday? You and Gier dropped me off here in what must be your room, and didn’t say a word to me the rest of the night. Gier must have been very angry.” I looked down at my hand. I felt so … helpless. The noises of the day, outside, people talking, horses clopping, the clanging of metal on metal as a blacksmith down the road began his day… all filled in to make a backdrop of sound as I talked to Clarissa.
Clarissa looked at her hands for a long moment. I thought perhaps she was not going to answer, when finally she said “Look, Aegis. We don’t know who or what you are. Everyone in this town held the Wizard Ken with high esteem. He would fight for us. Heal sick animals. Help with disputes. He helped keep the gangs at bay. There are all kinds of bad folks in this town that want to take advantage of the weak and helpless. He was there … to stop them.”
She sighed. Her hair had been pulled back into a ponytail, except for a few strands that framed her smooth face. Where Bright had been bubbly and totally cute, Clarissa seemed … exciting? What is wrong with me? This is not a dating sim. I don’t even think it’s a sim at all…
“What you did yesterday was stupid and ill planned, and doomed to fail” she started. My throat tightened.
“But it was sweet, in a way. And brave. And, there’s been nobody to do that … since Wizard Ken died. It was like, you were channeling him somehow.” She looked into my eyes.
“So, while Gier was furious at you, and the police probably want to bring you in for more questioning. And you’re a stupid fool. You’re also the closest thing anyone’s seen to the way Wizard Ken had done things in years.” She quirked a half smile.
With wide eyes. I smiled back.
“Thank you! I don’t know what came over me. It just felt like it was the right thing to do. Like my purpose in life is to … to protect people.” I answered.
Clarissa’s hand went to her mouth. She just looked at me with those disconcerting, judging eyes.
“Listen, Aegis. My dad’s going to be out for a while today running the store. He owns a kinda hardware supply store a few blocks away. He’s usually gone most of the day, and I’m often there helping him. But today I volunteered to keep an eye on you.” She dropped her eyebrows.
Woof! Bud barked.
“You and your dog Bud here.” She smiled and patted him on the head.
“You look pretty when you smile.” I found myself saying. Why did I do that? Argh!
Her eyes grew wide. “So, I don’t look pretty unless I’m smiling?” She said in mock anger. She was blushing.
“I - I” I stammered.
“I’m flattered Aegis. Since I spend so much time with my dad in the store, I don’t get to hang out with my friends that much. So, it’s kinda nice to hear.” She looked somewhat wistful. She was playing idly with a bit of string in her hands. It looked like part of a bracelet she was wearing.
“Listen, Clarissa.” I said, remembering what Bright had told me, before she … poofed.
“I need to go back to the castle. There’s something there that I need to find.”
She perked up immediately.
“Really? What is it? There’s really nothing there but a bunch of busted stone walls, some old furniture, and a lot of cobwebs. I’ve explored it pretty much top to bottom since I was a kid…”
“Oh?” I arched an eyebrow. “Did your dad know you went exploring there so much?”
She blushed again and looked down at her hands.
“What my dad doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Besides” she said, cheering up, “if it wasn’t for my curiosity, we’d never have found you, right?”
I wondered if it was only curiosity that had led her to me that day. It was only a day or so ago. Time seemed to go so slowly when you never slept.
“Why are you dressed like that?” I asked, gesturing to her leggings and vest.
She looked surprised. “Like what? Like this?” She gestured to herself.
“Yeah, you were in a dress yesterday, and when you found me…” I started.
She gave me a dour look - sidelong eyes, lowered eyebrows, pursed lips. I was taken aback. Had I offended her? I started to say “I’m so-”
She burst out laughing and touched my hand.
“You’re so odd, Aegis. You seem so worldly in one moment, and the next, like some kinda kid.” Her eyes were smiling.
I shrunk away a bit. A kid? Uggggh.
She bit her lip.
“I dressed like this because we are going to the castle right? No sense getting a dress caught on some rock, or getting it all dirty…” She rolled her eyes at some not so distant memory ” again.”
Huh? She anticipated my request to go to the castle? How did THAT work? Was she able to see into the future? I was so confused.
She stood up and took a deep breath. My own breath caught. She was pretty cute. And dressed like she was, she looked ready for anything. My adventurous spirit welled up and I grinned.
“You ready to go? I’ve had an early breakfast. Do you need some more water?” She asked as she moved about her room and put things away , moving here and there. She found a backpack and put some apples, a water skin, and some dried meat into it.
“I’m good.” I said. “Erm… how are we going to get there?” I asked finally.
She turned towards me in the middle of her preparations and winked at me. “We’ll use the wheelchair of course.”
Oh. Of course. How else would I get there? Riding on her back? Oh boy. Where was Interface? He’d been silent all morning. No amount of internal yelling or mental gymnastics had gotten a peep out of him. Just a vague sense that he was processing information at a fast pace.
“Let’s go!” she said finally, clapping her hands together. I nodded. Bud let out a hearty “Woof” and trotted out the door.
An hour later, Clarissa was panting as she pushed me up the last rocky path to reach the outskirts of the Castle Mir. It was immense! Like everything you might imagine in a fantasy universe castle. A broad, if crumbling wall with towers at each of the four corners, with an inner courtyard filled with loose stones, broken pieces of wood, and various trash from years of campers and potential looters. The forest surrounded the castle on all sides, but it was high up on a broad hill that left the base of the castle high above the tops of the surrounding trees. Inside the outer walls, an immense building with at least ten floors rose up above the stone walls. With one side holding an even taller, thick tower that rose high above the landscape like a lighthouse. The place was so big, it was hard to take in all at once as we were getting so close to the tall outer walls. Bud was seemingly ecstatic to be here. He would run up to us, lean forward as if he were bowing, then take off running again.
We stopped and let Clarissa catch her breath. I still heard nothing from Interface. I was getting concerned. Was he stuck in some endless loop? Was it more information that he could handle? I clutched the blue orb. I was excited and more than a bit fearful. At last I might start to get some answers about who I was. And maybe some way I could find … the rest of me? Would I be stuck like this forever? A broken toy.
Incomplete.
Darkness crept into my thoughts as we neared the castle. Doubts. Fears.
I realized with a start that it must have been Bright that sent Bud to me. With a kind of message in a bottle wrapped around his neck, in the form of a link to her, and this castle.
Pant Pant “You know, you weigh a ton!” Clarissa sighed as she slumped to the ground under a shady tree close to the castle. She pulled out some of her food from her backpack and took a big drink from her water skin.
“I’m sorry, Clarissa. I’ve not been able to access any special functions, because I cannot break Interface out of his processing of my memories. I think I might have broken myself.” I said with trepidation. I looked carefully at the immense castle. It was completely abandoned? How could that be? It looked as big as a small city itself. Surely folks who needed a place to stay would move in?
“So, this castle. Why is it completely abandoned? Wouldn’t you expect someone to move in after the wizard … passed away?” I asked
Clarissa gave me a thoughtful look as she chewed on a bit of beef jerky.
“Huh. Yeah. You’d think that would have happened. But, you know, nobody has. After the wizard died, there were lots of looters, but nobody really found anything. There were rumors of great treasure, and fantastic creatures” She squinched up her face and gestured with her arms as she talked. It felt so good to be talking to someone my own age again. Someone who didn’t think I was a diseased freak. Well, at least not diseased. Glass half full I guess.
“But, nobody ever found anything. People came and searched the whole castle. Nothing. Just some old furniture, and a few tapestries here and there.”
“Aren’t there people who want a place to stay? Like, homeless people?” I asked.
“Home - less people?” Clarissa looked confused.
“You mean like travelers?” she asked.
“No I mean like people who don’t have a home. They sleep on the streets. On benches and stuff.” I replied.
Clarissa shook her head and smiled.
“People don’t sleep on the streets. There are no beds! Plus, they’d freeze, or fall victim to the night creatures…” She tilted her head at me … kinda like Bright had done.
“Aren’t there people who, you know, don’t fit in. Like they are mentally ill, or on drugs?” I pulled at some branches near my wheelchair. The birds were singing in the distance. Down the hill we had run into a field of cows. It seemed so idyllic here. A breeze passed through the trees above and filled the air with the whisper of leaves.
“Oh! You mean like the lepers, or madmen. The police do patrols through the city and take people like that to the asylums. There are no … home - less people in our city.”
I stared at her in wonder. It dawned on me that I truly was in another world, with other ways of culture and politics. Problems of my world, just wouldn’t exist here. But I’m sure there were others.
As Clarissa finished up her afternoon snack, we proceeded closer to the castle. Memories teased across the edge of my consciousness. I had been here before. But how could that be? Maybe I was tapping into someone or something else’s memories? Like how Interface was rifling through my own?
Speak of the devil.
As we reached the place inside the castle where they had found me, I saw the gaping hole in the side of the building. It looked like something out of a war zone. Rocks were strewn everywhere. It was a wonder the building had not collapsed in this part of the building. The hole was big enough to drive a truck through. Bud barked once.
Warning! Hostile entities detected!
“Interface! You are back!” I exclaimed. Clarissa jumped as I yelled. She seemed very nervous.
Aegis, I was never gone. I’ve had to pause my acquisition of your memories due to a priority override. Your friend is in extreme danger. Hostile entities are approaching from the west.
“Look, Interface, don’t ever do that again. Disappear like that. Clarissa! My Interface is back and he says there are bad guys approaching.”
She let out a muffled “yeep” and in a quick motion had two daggers in her hands.
Where did THAT come from? Clarissa, the person that I had created stereotypes of some passive helpless girl, was rapidly changing in my eyes. This was not some scared helpless girl. She was holding those daggers with could only be described as practiced ease.
“Where? What direction?” She crouched down next to my wheelchair. Bud stood next to us and whimpered softly.
“West” I whispered.
Whatever I had for a heart began to beat rapidly in my chest. Gone was the swagger, the confidence. Someone had died because I had been overconfident. Never, EVER again.
We were partially exposed as we had been walking in an alleyway between one building and the damaged one. Thinking quickly, Clarissa wheeled me into the ruined building.
‘Listen, Interface. You need to help me out. What’s coming? How can I protect Clarissa?’ I thought in my head.
This is not good. Three hostile entities growing closer. Detecting weapons and light armor. Based on past analysis hostiles appear to be -
Before he could finish, three creatures stepped around the building. They had green skin, with large bulging eyes and fangs protruding from their over-sized mouths. Each one carried a wicked looking saber. They wore some kind of disgusting looking leather armor, and mismatched helmets. They gibbered and growled like horrible distorted children from some kind of horror film. I immediately recognized them … they were in every RPG I’d ever played.
Goblins!
Goblins the Interface finished.
Thinking fast, I sifted through my options like a madman tearing pages out of a book.
Fight. Flee. Negotiate … Nothing seemed right.
I looked down at my hand … I was so handicapped by my lack of legs, an arm. … WAIT a MINUTE.
I looked at Clarissa, who while shaking with fear, was still crouched by my side with her knives at the ready. Perfect!
“Listen, Clarissa.” I whispered “I have an idea. I’m not sure if it’ll work, but just … play along, OK?”
Wide eyed, she nodded.
Bud began to growl.
The Goblins were coming closer.
‘Interface, you know this magic that’s making me look human. Can it make me look like anything else?’
Processing. Affirmative. Within reason we can change colors, tones, hair, eyes. But this doesn’t seem like the time to be concerned about your appearance …
I smiled. ‘This is precisely the time. Can you make me look like a Goblin? Ears, eyes, black greasy hair. Big toothy mouth?’
… I’m beginning to get your ‘gist’ I guess you would say. I’ve processed approximately 65% of your childhood memories. Is this a … sam?
‘Scam… Yes! Do it!’
“Listen, Clarissa, when I give the word, start yelling and stabbing me with those knives. Okay?”
She shot me a puzzled look. “Wha-”
At that moment I became a Goblin. “Ahhh!” She cried. Then recognition flooded her face.
“ARrrrh!! Take that you filthy Goblin!” She began pounding my chest – turning the knives at the last second.
Bud began barking up a storm. I think he kinda understood what was going on.
The Goblins appeared at the entrance of the room - eyes wide, with spears at the ready.
“Whuuuhh?” One of them said.
“Ahh! Brothers! Flee! We’re under attack! Run!” Bud growled and rushed at the Goblins.
“She’s chopped off my arm! My legs are gone! Augughghh! Run you fools!” I screamed.
I fell out of the chair, and somehow Interface took the initiative and covered my green skin with a shiny reddish hue.
Clarissa snarled and bunched up her face - brandishing her knives like some sort of mad woman.
Two of the Goblins turned and ran. The third … I could see water trickling down his leg. He was frozen in fear.
Desperate, I screamed one last time – raising my voice to an almost painful volume.
That shook the last Goblin out of his trance and he looked down at me. My eyes were filled with blood and black oil spurted from my left shoulder.
‘Nice touch’ I thought to Interface.
These things you’ve watched. Moo - vies. They are quite a source for violent imagery Interface replied dryly.
The Goblin screamed, dropped his sword, and ran in the same direction as the first two.
In moments, it was all over. Clarissa fell to the ground, on her knees and wheezed. Bud barked a few more times and ran back to me, licking my face and whining. My face turned pink again and I became blood - and oil - free.
“I can’t -” Clarissa panted “I can’t believe that worked! I thought we were goners! How… how did you do that?” She rushed over and helped me back into my chair.
“I guess the magic that makes me look human can make me look … other?” I smiled up at her. Her face was flushed, her eyes wide and her hair was unkempt. She looked beautiful. I shook myself internally. Gotta stay focused.
Suddenly self conscious, Clarissa turned away and ran her hands through her hair. Her knives were gone. Where did she keep them?
Aegis. I am detecting something metal approximately 5 meters east. Density and shape suggest it might be mechanical in nature.
I caught my breath. ( Did I breathe? I guess I did … in order to intake moisture and oxygen for chemical combustion processes ) .
“Clarissa!” I said - excitement in my voice.
She turned back - suddenly cautious again.
“What is it? Are the goblins returning?” she breathed.
“No, at least not that I know of -”
The creatures have moved outside of my range of detection. Interface volunteered.
“My Interface says they are gone, for now. No this is something else. Somehow there’s something else metal nearby. Interface says it might be mechanical” I grinned. “Maybe there’s more of me around here!”
Clarissa smirked and put her hands on her hips - eyebrows arched.
“There’s plenty of you here already. Don’t get to cocky. I don’t think they will be fooled a second time”
“You’re right. All the more reason for us to look. Will you help me?” I tried to put a pleading note in my voice.
She made a big deal out of looking at the ceiling as she held one hand over her chin and the other under her arm in an exaggerated pondering motion.
Then she laughed, “Of course! I’ve been trying to find something interesting here for years. But… how could it still be here? This place has been picked over so many times…”
“I don’t know, let’s go see.” my eyebrows danced. She stuck out her tongue.
We walked / rollled further in to the ruined room. Broken stone was everywhere. Bits of ruined furniture. Pieces of shattered shelving. A bowl. At the far end of the room it was relatively dark. A huge pillar of stone had fallen over, pressing deep into the stone below it.
My readings detect a strong signal, Aegis. It appears to be your other half alright. Even Interface sounded excited.
I am establishing communications protocols
“What does that mean?” I asked out loud.
Clarissa threw me a puzzled look.
“My legs. They are under this pillar.” I gestured weakly at the stone column.
“Oh that’s great. How are we supposed to move THAT?” She walked over to the column and sat down. She patted the stone.
“Seems pretty immova – ack!” Startled by a sudden movement, she leapt off the column. There was a rumbling.
The pillar was moving! Very slightly, The sounds of rocks crumbling, and a high pitched whine was starting to sound in our ears. Steam began to escape from the widening gap between the floor and the huge column.
“Get back!” I cried and pulled Clarissa back toward me. She stumbled and fell into my lap. Or well, what would have been my lap. She smelled .. like cinnamon and burnt wood chips. I guess I could smell now too.
“What - what’s going on?” She cried, and tried to pull herself up.
Bud barked furiously.
The blue stone on my chest began to glow. Clarissa pulled herself away in awe.
The stone pillar rocked back and forth, slowly at first, then building more momentum with each cycle. Then, there was a huge CRACK! And it rolled backwards away from us. Dust filled the room. Coughing, Clarissa waved the air.
As the dust settled, I looked at what stood before me, and my jaw dropped. Shaking, quivering with exertion, stood … my legs. And , thank god. My butt.
Connection established. Interface said, almost smugly.
I rolled up to the legs and looked them over. They had the same kind of odd runic markings all over. Parts of them glowed in places, near the joints, through the broken top half. I winced. It looked like something had ripped me in two. I’m glad the part under the pillar had been my lower half, or I’d probably be just a pile of junk now.
“What do we do now? Can you rejoin with your … legs?” Clarissa asked as she walked around my lower half. Did she actually look at my backside? I blushed.
Warning! Mana levels at 10%. Unable to initiate repair protocols. Camouflage system failing. Aegis, between your subterfuge with the goblins and the power exertion to escape the pillar, your Mana is very low. Recommend you seek out the source of Mana from the orb you possess. Interface sounded … tired.
My skin tone blinked once then faded. I now looked just like my other half. Metallic, glowing, and covered in runes. I looked to Clarissa.
“Um, I have to tell you something. The … magic that will help me is running out.”
“Running out? That’s really bad isn’t it? How do you get it back?” She asked. Bud nuzzled her hand with his cold nose and she petted him absently.
“Well, you see” I started. How was I going to do this? How can I tell her about Bright?
“Waitaminute … there WAS someone else you were talking to last night… wasn’t there?” She was getting angry.
“Well, yes and … no” I managed.
“You see, I have this Interface in my head for the mechanical side of me. And it seems there’s another for the … magical side.”
Clarissa crossed her arms. She kicked at a rock with a boot. “Go on”
“She told me to come here, to recharge this orb thing.” I started.
Clarissa cut me off “So that’s why - wait you said she?”
“Yeah. It’s in the form of a girl. Her name is Bright”
Clarissa rolled her eyes “Oh. So some girl appeared to you in a dream and told you to come to the castle. And you believed her.”
My legs shifted weight nervously. How were they doing that?
“Well.yeah! I mean she did give me this necklace. And the magic. The Mana I have is from this…” I held out the orb.
“What if this is a trap? What if - whatever killed wizard Ken is out for YOU now?” She was practically shaking with anger.
“Hol - hold up Clarissa!” I held up my hand, as if to stave off her assault.
“I trust her. She sent me Bud and this necklace. Why help me only to hurt me here?”
She stared at me and shifted her weight to her other leg. Her arms were still crossed. “Is she pretty?” She asked quietly.
“Huh?” I stammered.
“Is. She. Pretty” she bit out each word.
“Well, yeah I guess” I could not believe my ears. Was Clarissa … jealous?
She rolled her eyes and tossed her arms up, walking back towards the opening in the wall.
“Well, I guess I’ll leave you to your quest…” she started.
“Wait! Clarissa!” I wheeled towards her and grabbed her elbow.
She looked down at my hand. I let go with a snap like I’d been bitten by a snake.
“Sorry. Clarissa. I … I need you. I’ve only been in this world for a couple of days, and you’re the only friend I’ve got. Even your dad’s probably thinking about how to get rid of me.”
She looked out at the opening in the wall. I could almost see the gears turning in her head.
“If this is a … trap … like you say. Then I could sure use a friend to help me find a way to escape. You seem pretty handy with those knives…” My words trailed off.
Her expression softened.
“Well, if you put it that -”
There was a scream that cut the air outside the castle. Another echoed across the courtyard.
Goblins!
Clarissa and I exchanged a worried glance.
“Let’s go” we both said. Clarissa looked down and quirked a smile for a brief instant. The blades were in her hands once again.
“How do you do that?” I asked as we made our way back to the inner wall.
She gave me a sidelong glance. “Maybe it’s magic.” she smiled worriedly.
‘Interface, any idea where I’m going?’ I asked inwardly.
Affirmative. Proceed out the nearest exit. Turn right and continue until you reach a dead end.
“Dead end? That doesn’t sound good.” I said out loud.
“What?” Clarissa asked.
“Interface wants us to go out this door and down the hall to the right.”
“There’s nothing there. Just some old pots and junk” Clarissa answered. She spun the knives in her hands with nervous energy.
‘Um, how will?’ I started to ask Interface. At that moment, my legs began to move - jerkily and twice almost falling before following us out the door.
I am able to interface with our lower appendages. Gross movement is possible by triggering instinctual walking routines. Don’t expect them to moonwalk however.
‘How did - oh. You HAVE been scanning my memories!’
Affirmative . Wil Robinson. Interface somehow changed his internal voice to sound like a robot from an old TV show I watched as a child.
I grinned. We made our way down the hallway.
Another screech. This one MUCH closer. They were in the castle!
I looked at Clarissa in panic and rolled to the end of the hallway.
“What now?” She cried.
Suddenly, at the far end of the hallway appeared two Goblins. They were much fiercer looking than the three we had seen before. They spotted us immediately and yelled bloody murder as they began to race down the hallway.
“Come on!” Clarissa yelled. “What now?”
‘Um Interface, what do we do?’ I yelled in my head.
Aegis. Hold the necklace up to the wall. When you see a glimmer, press the panel
Frantically, I rolled up to the wall and held the mana orb up. I spotted a glimmer higher up than I could reach.
“Clarissa! Help! Press the wall there!” I pointed to a brick that was slightly darker than the rest.
She leapt over me like a gymnast and smacked the wall with her hand.
“Ow!” I heard something crack in her wrist. Oh no. She bent over, holding her hand, her pretty face was constricted in pain.
My legs wobbled up closer to me. The Goblins were almost upon us. I suddenly felt very strange. Giddy. The air around us was whooshing upward. Clarissa’s hair was flying up as if we were falling. Light sparkles appeared all around us. I watched in horror as the Goblins let loose their spears at us as they gibbered in fury.
Then suddenly, the world exploded in light and we were no more.
“Ow.”
My vision cleared. We were NOT standing where we had been before. And luckily there were no Goblin spears in me or Clarissa.
Clarissa!
I wheeled over to her. She was bent over in pain, holding her wrist. It was already swelling.
“Hey, are you OK? I heard the crack. You are amazing you know? You saved us.” I said soothingly.
She jerked her head towards me. There were tears in her eyes, and she was biting her lip.
“I didn’t do … this.” She looked outward from the place we were standing. Her jaw dropped.
Aegis. Proceed forward along the marked path until you reach the bridge.
I looked around us. The air was cold, and somewhat clammy, like being in a cave. Though this was no cave. The floor beneath us was weathered stone, with a slight moist gloss to it. The floor was perfectly flat, and stretched off in every direction as far as we could see. There was some kind of marking on the floor, like a pattern, leading off in one direction. Every thirty feet or so, an immense pillar rose from the ground - easily ten feet in diameter, made of some kind of smooth stone that glowed with a warm ambient light. Each pillar was glowing a slightly different color and I had the impression of a stone forest of glow sticks for a giant rave concert.
As we watched, the colors slowly changed … red to blue to green to yellow … each one seemingly on its own cycle and sequence. They stretched high to a vaulted ceiling. I got a bit dizzy staring upwards, but something strange caught my eye.
“Look. Up there!” I said to Clarissa. Tiny lights were moving quickly in all directions up near the ceiling, like fireflies - only the lights didn’t go out.
Bud sat peacefully, as if waiting for us to move.
I felt very small. Insignificant, like I used to feel in church when we would go to the huge catholic churches - when my dad felt like we had not had enough “religion” in our lives. Our voices felt strangely muffled. I turned to Clarissa. She was still hunched over, grasping her wrist.
What - I thought to myself - was I doing here? I’m just this kid. This nobody who’s most likely dying out in the “real” world. And here I am going on this grand adventure without so much as a thought to what I was doing. Just careening from thing to thing like I was playing a video game. Was this a game? What if it was real? It seems so real. I looked down at my arm. Lights played along the surface in small ways. I could see a wire here and there. Feel a servo pull as I moved my elbow. I thought about that man that died. About Clarissa standing there hurt because of me.
I clenched my fist.
Regardless of whether or not this world was “real”, it was “real” to those people. Fantasy world, simulation, or drug induced hallucination, it didn’t matter any more. I was going to help these people, and be true to myself. If I died in some vat of salt water somewhere, it would at least be with me knowing I did my best in the place I had been sent. Who knows? Maybe if I helped in this world, it might make a difference for me in my own. But then I realized that was selfish. I was going to do my best here, regardless of my own life. In a way, I was already dead. What did it matter anymore. I was basically a ghost in a toy robot here.
But I could be more than that.
Gritting my teeth, I rolled up closer to Clarissa.
“Wait a minute. Can you hand me your backpack?” I asked
“What? Ow!” she awkwardly rolled her shoulder and the backpack strap hit her wrist on the way down. It clunked to the ground. She gave me a pained look.
“Sorry. Just a second.” I replied.
I opened her backpack with a bit of a struggle with one hand. Inside I saw rations, more knives (wow, she really likes knives I guess) and the thing I was looking for - a simple first aid kit. It was basically a bag with some wraps, a bottle of something that looked like iodine, and some small scissors.
I pulled them out and gestured to her wrist. She stared at me like I was some kind of ghost.
“What? Let’s get your wrist wrapped.” I asked and soundlessly she extended her hand.
Well, wrapping a wrist one handed would have been incredibly awkward. But Clarissa understood what I was doing and we handed the cloth back and forth as we wrapped her wrist together. Tears were in her eyes, but she bit her lip and endured the pain. It was strange to be so close to another person after all this time. In the hospital, nurses were friendly but always kept a distance. Other patients were living their own personal troubles, and no one was interested in talking with a shy teenager. She kept looking up at me - into my eyes and I wondered if I was breaking some kind of social norms here in this world.
“There” I said.
Our work was clumsy and looked like a zombie had tried to put his hand in a clothes washing machine, but it immobilized her wrist.
Clarissa wiggled her fingers. Wincing a little.
“It … feels better, a little.” She looked up at me.
“My mom would do things like this for me. I was always climbing trees, and falling out of them as a kid. I had more bruises, cuts, and sprains than any 5 year old should have. She was always kind to me…” She looked down at her wrist. “Like this.”
If I had my camouflage back I probably would have blushed.
“I know this probably seems super weird and sudden. You find this crazy golem kid and now we’re teleported to some stone forest in God knows where, and I managed to get you hurt trying to help me. I’m – I’m sorry for pulling you into this. I don’t want you to think I’m taking this for granted. I should have asked you if you wanted to do this at all.” I looked down at the floor.
Bud looked at me and waged his tail.
She crouched down and looked me in the eyes. She quirked a smile, despite her pain. “Are you kidding me? This is the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m not a big fan of dying or anything, but I’ve never experienced anything like this!”
She turned serious.
“But… I want you to promise me something. Whatever is … out there” She gestured in the way we were going to proceed, “That you’ll not suddenly forget I’m here. You’re some kind of super special magical creature. As soon as you find someone else like you …” She looked down at the floor.
“Not a chance. I owe you too much. You saved me remember? I’d be … dead by now if you hadn’t found me”
Her eyes widened.
“Dead? But you’re a …”
“My Interface said that my energy was so low, that if I had not gotten some water to recharge when I did, I would have been dead within hours.”
She smiled and gave me a sly look.
“Well then, Mr. Aegis.” She stood up.
“This means you are now part of my guild. Under me.”
“Uh. Um. Okay. What’s a guild?” I asked, rubbing the back of my head in confusion.
She looked over her shoulder playfully as she began walking down the stone pathway. “You’ll see.”
While one hand was wrapped now, the other still held her dagger. I looked at the way she walked. It was almost catlike. I blinked and shook my head. Could golems have feelings? I suddenly felt in over my head in so many ways. I looked at my legs.
“Come on, legs, we have a Bright future ahead of us!”
Awkwardly, they jerked to motion and followed us as we traveled across the Rave Tree forest.
Why is it in games, the boring parts are always glossed over, but in real life, you don’t get to do that? We walked. A LONG time. Bud would race ahead and stop and wait for us. I knew he probably could have gotten there in ten minutes if we had kept his pace. As it was, we walked over an hour. Nothing but a strange path, glowing pillars of stone, and the clunk clunk of my lower half working tirelessly to not fall over as it stumbled along. It was so unreal to be watching what should have been a part of me, working on it’s own. It just reinforced the knowledge that I was no longer a human. And that whomever had made this body, was some kind of magical / mechanical genius. Clarissa and I made small talk. I asked her about her life in the town. She talked about her dad, about the store, and whenever I brought up the “guild” she gave me an enigmatic smile and changed the subject. She asked me about what it was like to be a golem. I did my best to describe how it felt. It wasn’t much different than life before. I realized I had been in constant, low-key pain since I had awoken. Interface was suppressing those feelings otherwise I would probably still be writhing on the floor in pain.
Mana is down to 1%. I will no longer be able to drive your lower extremities if we do not reach the Mana source soon, Aegis.
“How much longer?” I asked.
We are reaching the bridge now. Interface answered.
Oh. Man.
We had reached the end of the Rave Tree forest, but not the end of this huge room. It must go on for miles. Stretching off beyond our power to see, the pillars continued to the left and right, but in front of us the world grew dark. Except for those firefly things that buzzed around way up near the ceiling … the sheer scale of everything just felt so oppressive.
“Gee, we really aren’t in Kansas anymore” I whispered.
Clarissa glanced back at me sharply. She had a “what did you say?” look on her face.
Before us the path continued to what looked like a huge iron gate. Beyond the gate was a bridge that arc’d sharply upward and disappeared into the darkness. That wouldn’t have been so bad, but right at the edge of the gate, the floor … stopped. In the waning light from the columns we could see that the floor dropped off into nothingness. It was like a moat of darkness.
And the gate was the only way across.
“Where are we?” Clarissa wondered.
“You are under Castle Kendranen.” A deep, baritone voice intoned.
We both jumped.
What was THAT?
A shape appeared to the right of the iron gate. Apparently on either side of the gate was a column of that same odd stone, only these did not glow. An opening had appeared, and a huge figure stepped forward.
In the dim light I could make out the shape of what might be a man, if he were ten feet tall, covered in spiky armor, and had glowing yellow eyes within a brassy helm. I took a step back.
Bud barked twice and jumped around the armored figure like it was an old friend. With a great squeaking of metal, the figure reached down slowly and patted the dog. It was huge.
Aegis, shall I adjust your vision for the dim light? I can enhance your perceptions.
“Um yeah, go ahead.” I whispered.
Clarissa walked closer to me. She put her hand on my shoulder. I could see the bandaged hand shaking in fear.
Suddenly, it was like someone had turned on the lights. I could see the figure in perfect clarity and I gasped. Imagine if you took an old steam train, with pipes, valves, gears and brass fittings and somehow merged that with a classic fairy tale knight in shining armor. Except, this knight had no face. And glowing eyes. And we could hear the sounds of gears grinding, with occasional jets of steam spurting from a joint or a valve here and there. It was literally a steam engine in human form.
Oh, and it had a huge brass sword that looked like it could slice a car in two with one swipe.
This was to say the least very scary.
For both of us.
“Hello! Sir Knight! My name is Aegis. I was sent here by Bright. Um … Er… Is she home?”
Gah! What an idiot! Should I ask him out for some tea as well?
“The person you seek is here.” It said.
It’s voice was so deep I felt I was talking to a mountain or something. A mountain of deadly brass, it seemed. The brassy knight took a step forward, went into a resting stance with his feet wider, and planted his sword in the ground while placing both hands on the pommel. The rock cracked under the force of its blow and the sword sank down several inches into the stony floor.
Clarissa gulped visibly.
“Um, maybe we should go, Aegis. I don’t think we are welcome here.” she turned to leave.
“On the contrary. You are expected.” The brass knight intoned.
Clarissa froze in her tracks - in mid step. I was almost comical had I not been terrified within an inch of my life.
Just then a light appeared at the top of the bridge. A blue light was coming over the bridge and was running toward us.
“Hiii!! Hiii! I’m so glad you got here! Aegis!!” The figure, with my adjusted eyesight, was Bright! Only she wasn’t glowing. A blue light shone above her head as she raced towards the gate. She reached it in seconds and started waving and jumping up and down like a fan girl at a boy band concert.
“Hii!! Hii!” She cried.
I looked at Clarissa and shrugged sheepishly. She shot me a suspicious look.
“Open the gate Argent! C’mon. Move your rusty butt!” she said laughingly.
“I am made of brass. I do not … rust.” It said.
Argent was its name apparently.
She kept jumping up and down like an urgent puppy waiting to get out the door for a walk. I smiled despite myself, and Clarissa frowned. The knight Argent stepped heavily over to the gate and pulled a hidden lever. The gate screamed as metal rang on metal and Clarissa put her hands to her ears involuntarily - she hurt her wrist again and she cried out in pain.
Bright was on us like a bolt of lightning.
She was dressed in the same light sun dress. It was shoulder-less, with two straps. Her hair was the same short explosion, although it lie cutely about her neck instead of drifting around in the air as before. She looked very human, and … very cute.
“Ohh Clarissa! You’re hurt!” She ran up to Clarissa and cupped her wrist with her hands. Clarissa pulled her hand away in anger.
“Whoa there? Who are you? What are you doing?” Clarissa said, frowning. But she had hurt her wrist again in the motion and said “Ow!!!”
“Clarissa dear. I’m Bright. I’m Aegis’ Mana in-ter-face. Didn’t he tell you about me?” She looked at me with innocent confusion.
Oh boy.
“Yes, he said you told him that. But how are we supposed to believe you? Maybe you’re the one who killed wizard Ken and you’re out to get him too!” Clarissa looked down at her dagger.
Bright looked stricken. She took a step back and put a hand to her chest. A tear fell from her eye.
“Do YOU believe that, Aegis? Do YOU think I would do something like that?” Her bottom lip was starting to quiver. My heart was breaking.
“No no no!” I cried.
“Clarissa’s just being cautious. I mean someone did try to destroy me -” OOPS. I shouldn’t have said that.
“WHAT? How could you - ?” Clarissa’s face grew red.
“STOP!” A deep voice intoned.
“Yeeep!” Clarissa cried. I almost laughed, it was so … cute.
“Bright is the master of this castle. I am her servant. You will listen to her words.” And that was that. Clarissa took another step back as Argent turned and pointed to her with his sword.
“Oh, put down your stick, Argent. Don’t terrify the girl.” Bright brought her hands together in fists over her chest and her feet bounced up and down in excitement.
“If you’ll allow me…” She said, looking at Clarissa expectantly.
Dumbly, Clarissa nodded.
Bright bounced up again and brought her hands to Clarissa’s broken wrist. A blue glow began to appear inside her cupped hands, around Clarissa’s wrist.
Crack!
Clarissa screamed and jumped back into a low fighting stance. She flicked her wrists and twin daggers appeared.
“Hey, hold on Clarissa, look at your wrist!” I cried.
Bright looked at Clarissa with wide, expectant eyes. She crossed her arms across her chest and pressed her chin to her hands.
“Did I fix it?” She said, her voice was full of quiet hope.
Clarissa looked at her wrapped wrist. She rolled it around while still holding the dagger.
“Huh.” She said, and stood upright.
“It doesn’t hurt. What did you do?” She made a quick motion and her daggers disappeared.
Bright smiled with a wide open mouth and her eyes danced. She leaned forward and wiggled her fingers in the air like a stage magician.
“Magic!”
“Oh. Well thanks.” Clarissa seemed mollified.
Bright looked at me and then at my legs. Her eyes got even wider and she bounced in place again. She was so full of energy, I couldn’t help but grin.
“You found them! And you found me! I’ve missed you so much!” She bound toward me and gave me a big hug. I looked over her shoulder at Clarissa, who looked hurt. She turned away and looked down.
Bright put her arms on my shoulders and looked me in the eye. She had a huge smile and dancing eyes. I was entranced.
“Aegis, we gotta get you patched up. This is what Kenny wanted me to do. I’m getting to fulfill my purpose! I’m so excited! Do you know how dreadfully bored I’ve been down here? I’ve been organizing the Archives till my eyes bled. I’ve been scanning for any sign of you for years. I’m so excited!” She seems almost … manic.
“I’m glad” I managed.
Bright held her face toward me but slowly turned her eyes to Clarissa slyly. She winked at me. In a burst of energy she danced over to the startled girl and threw her arms around her in an exuberant hug. I was kinda jealous.
“Yeep! What-” Clarissa stood helplessly with her arms outstretched at odd angles with a girl about her same size hugging her tightly.
“Thank you Clarissa. For saving my Aegis. And for bringing him here to me. Can we be… friends? Is that the word? Friends?” Bright let go and Clarissa gasped slightly for air.
I smiled thinking that I had been wrong to think that the huge knight with the giant sword was the challenge. It was instead a super bouncy girl with incredible magic power.
Clarissa looked at me, and back to Bright. Bright bobbed up and down like a happy puppy and her eyebrows waggled.
“Well?”
Clarissa sighed. “Okay. I guess. Does it mean that much to you?”
“Oh yes. I do love friends. But I don’t like enemies.” Her face grew hard for the briefest of moments. Her eyes had gone from deep blue to slate grey.
Then she smiled and bounced again, clapping her hands with joy.
“This is so great! Let’s go see my room!” She turned to go back through the gate.
Aegis, Mana levels at 0%. I am unable to maintain control of your legs. Interface said urgently.
At that moment, my legs collapsed and fell to the stone floor with a muffled clang.
“Oh, now. That won’t do. Not at all” Bright spun about and skipped over to me, her dress flaring for a moment. The sight of her legs, not even above the knee, sent a thrill through me. Egad, this was probably not going to end well for me.
Bright kneeled before me gracefully and reached out to my chest.
“Wha?” I said dumbly.
She held the blue orb of my necklace in her hand and kissed it gently. Oh man.
The blue orb flared to light - illuminating the whole area in soft blue light. Clarissa gasped. Bright looked up at me shyly and bit her lip.
Mana levels at 100% Thank you, Bright. Interface spoke.
“You’re welcome ’bot” Bright said.
“Hey! You - you can hear Interface?” I asked, surprised.
“Of course I can. I AM a part of you as well, silly.” She hopped up and started skipping to the gate. She leaped impossibly high for someone her size and kissed Argent on what would have been his cheek. She paused at the gate. Argent’s hand came up and touched its cheek. It looked bemused.
“Well? Coming? I have SO much to show you.” Bright said with barely suppressed excitement.
Clarissa put her hands on her hips and arched an eyebrow at me.
“Yeah Aegis. Ready to go see the girl’s room? I’m sure it’s full of amazing things.” She said sarcastically.
I gulped.
As Bright skipped along the bridge, humming to herself, I rolled up to Clarissa.
“Hey, you OK?” I asked. My wheelchair had developed a squeak as we had traveled so far with it. Clarissa looked at the chair. I could tell many emotions were competing for her thoughts.
“Yeah. Sure. Your friend Bright is quite a girl.” She remarked dryly, running her hand along the rail. The bridge was fully enclosed in a cage like fence, even on the top. There were lights under the railing but that only accentuated the feeling that beyond the darkness was … something.
Clarissa gave me a look then turned to Bright.
“Miss Bright!” She called.
Bright looked over her shoulder and smiled.
“Yes, ’issa?”
I winced. I wondered how much of an earful I would get later for all this. Or maybe the silent treatment?
Clarissa didn’t bat an eye.
“Why this cage around the bridge? Is it to keep people from falling?”
Bright made a moue with her lips and shook her head vigorously.
“Oh no. It’s to keep the Eaters out.”
Clarissa and I exchanged glances.
“Eaters? What are they? Some kind of bird?” Clarissa asked .
Bright looked up and placed a finger on her cheek as if lost in thought for a moment.
“Do you have any food? Like some bread, or jerky?” She asked.
“Oh sure.” Clarissa rolled her shoulder and dropped her pack. A bit of meat was in her hand in a heartbeat.
“Are you hungry?” She asked.
Bright giggled.
“Oh no no. It’s not for me. I don’t eat people food. It’s for the Eaters. Put it outside the fence a little. Watch your hands! They are bitey!”
Clarissa held the strip of jerky outside the fence a few inches. With absolutely no warning a creature the size of an alligator smacked into the fence, bit into the jerky, and disappeared into the darkness.
“Yeeeeep!” Clarissa cried, flinging herself backward.
It had looked like a mouth, with claws and wings, and teeth. Lots of teeth.
Bright chuckled. Then gave us a wide eyed innocent look.
“Eaters” she said finally and turned to continue skipping down the pathway.
We reached the end of the bridge, and walked into an opening on a sheer cliff face. There was no ledge on this side of the bridge, it just connected directly to the stony wall and in to a short hallway. There were flame-less torches on the rough stone walls, set in evenly spaced sconces. The air was noticeably colder here, as the temperature had dropped once we started walking on the bridge.
Bright gave us a big smile as she looked over her shoulder. Her pert nose and short hair gave her a distinctly elfin appearance that I hadn’t put together before. Her excitement seemed barely contained as she pulled out a huge key from … somewhere … and pressed it into the lock on a heavy metal studded oaken door at the end of the hall.
“I’m so excited. I’ve NEVER had guests before. I’m so glad I tidied up before you came.” Bright said wistfully.
As she pushed the door open into the next room my jaw dropped. Up till now, we had seen wonders, and architecture that seemed built for giants … on acid. But this next room took all that to another level. Clarissa and I entered the huge circular room and took in all the features like two kids gauping at a county fair for the first time.
Picture a huge room - completely half-spherical — dome-like – filled to the ceiling with … shelves full of oddly shaped bottles, books strewn all over, glowing gems that floated in bell jars, hanging herbs, a mad assortment of items like a cross between a witches herb room and Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory. There were devices lying everywhere - mostly brass or iron and brass - some glowing, other quiescent, while still others hummed or made other electronic sounds.
While all this was overwhelming, it paled in comparison to the immense structure in the middle of the room. Imagine a gated circular pool full of blue glowing fluid with a singular bridge that let to a pillar of rapidly spinning and churning blue light. It was as if you forced a giant waterfall into a barrel wide pillar of light . I was reminded of something like the Warp Drive in Star Trek meets the inner room of a T.A.R.D.I.S. from a show called Doctor Who.
The sounds were quiet, but almost overwhelming in their diversity. Beeps and whooshes and hisses from steam escaping. The smell was akin to motor oil meets vanilla cream. There were also other doors set at regular intervals around the room - each one giving off a different color of eerie light.
Bright danced around the room - flitting from object to object as she sought to show us everything she had collected or created. It was like meeting a 5 year old for a sleepover and having her show you all her toys, books, and clothes.
“So this is a spatial capacitor, and this is concentrated fairy dust, and this is a book on parallel univ -”
“Enough!” Clarissa cried out. She was holding her head in her hands over her ears. She looked overwhelmed to the degree that I thought she might actually pass out.
Bright gave Clarissa a hurt look, but spun to me and smiled.
“So, Aegis. What do you think? Like it?” She blinked at me with wide expectant eyes.
“It’s all so overwhelming. Did you do all this?” I gestured at … everything. She nodded.
“And what is this thing in the middle? It’s so, vibrant.” Clarissa asked. The light from the pillar of energy played off her eyes, making her look starstruck.
“Oh, that’s an easy one. That’s …” she paused for dramatic effect and raised her hands with palms to the sky - once again like the stage magician ” … me!”
“What? I don’t understand, Bright. Aren’t you … you?” I gestured to her bouncy figure.
She chuckled.
“No, silly. This is just a …. What did Kenny call it ? A pro-jeck-shun. Projection! That’s it! He always had the right words. I’m basically pure Mana. But it would be pretty boring just flowing around the castle like some mindless light beams, right?” She smirked. Clarissa looked a bit .. ill.
“You, you’re pure Mana? How is that even possible?” Clarissa managed.
“Simple! Kenny made me. Just like he made Aegis.” She acted like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“Anyway ..” She clapped her hands and suddenly she looked different. Instead of a sun dress, short curls, and bare feet, she was dressed in a white lab coat over a dark bodysuit. She had large goggles on her forehead and white gloves. She was the epitome of a Mad Scientist. I expected her to start laughing evilly while holding up her hands in triumph.
“Let’s get down to business. Aegis. Kenny knew that you would get into scrapes, and possibly major damage. I was schooled on every aspect of your body.” Her eyebrows bounced under the goggles. I blushed.
“So you can fix him?” Clarissa managed to say between gritted teeth.
“Oh ’issa. I can do more than just fix him. I can make him better!” She clapped her hands – which was somewhat muffled by the gloves – and bounced slightly on the balls of her feet.
Fix me? A thrill of electricity seemed to arc down my spine. I could walk again? How I had taken that for granted before I was pulled into this world. I had taken a lot of things for granted, it seemed. The very thought that I could be made whole - or at least ‘more whole’ since my arm was still missing - filled me with joy.
“I’ve been learning a lot about magic, science, spirits, and other things I can’t mention in mixed company” she winked at me. Clarissa dropped her arms to her sides - her hands in fists.
“You know, maybe I should just leave. You have a back door to this place? I’ll risk the goblins eating me … I guess.” Clarissa was seething.
“Please don’t go, ’issa. I’ve been so terribly lonely here. Just with Argent and Boris, and the stuffy old Archive. I’ve never had a real friend before.” Bright walked over and touched Clarissa’s hand.
Clarissa looked at Bright, then at me. She sighed.
“Plus, I’ll need you if we want to make Aegis whole again.” Bright gave a hesitant smile.
Clarissa was surprised.
“Need me? What for?”
“Weeelll. You see, I need to go back into the Source. That’s what Kenny called the big shiny column thingy there. And Aegis will have to enter it as well. That will leave nobody here to run the controls.”
Bright took Clarissa’s hands and swayed them gently back and forth.
“Pleassse? Without you - Aegis would burn up like a little bit of charcoal in my Source. He needs to be dipped in for just a few minutes, and then POP! Out he comes good as new.”
Clarissa looked at me. Several emotions passed through her face. “Well, Aegis. Do you trust me? What if I just walk off while you two are …. Sourcing?”
I rolled up to Clarissa.
“Look, I know you barely know me. And you have no reason to risk anything being here. I’ve already imposed on you so much. But… I have a chance to be whole again. I’m sorry I didn’t mention the attack. I only remember a few seconds. Someone very evil did their best to destroy me. And they had … glowing eyes.”
“Oh man” Clarissa replied.
“Just like whoever killed the Wizard Ken? Wow.” She paced back and forth.
Aegis, I caution you about trusting this human. If she does not complete the process and eject you on time, Bright’s energy will burn you out like a … broken light bulb? Is that right?
“I get it, Interface.”
“Well, you ARE part of my guild, Aegis. And you will have to do as I say after this …. girl fixes you. You will owe me big time. And I’ll expect a payback.” She managed, she looked down at her fingernails, as if they needed tending to.
“I’ll do whatever you want. As long as it’s not .. you know … killing someone” I answered.
Clarissa looked stricken.
“Geeze, Aegis. What kind of girl do you think I am?” She replied.
“Oh! Oh! I know this one!” Bright said as she held her arm up excitedly.
“You’re a junior member of the thieves guild. And you’ve been doing jobs behind your father’s back for the past two years as a way to escape your fate as a shopkeeper?” Bright said enthusiastically.
“Did I get that right?” She added.
Clarissa took a step back and placed her hand on her heart as if stricken by the words Bright had said.
I arched and eyebrow.
“Is this true Clarissa? That explains a lot.” I said
She stood up straight, chin jutted out and arms to her sides, in fists, defiant.
“Well, what if it is? You going to go lock me up now? You don’t know what it’s like living a boring life day in day out, sitting in a shop, waiting for customers that either never come, or come asking for absurdly stupid things. I would go mad if I stayed with my father.”
“No no. I think that’s really cool. So you’re a secret thief. That’s bad-ass.” I said.
Clarissa shook her head. “I don’t know what that means. Did you just insult me?”
Her face was turning red.
“No, I think you’re amazing. I had parents that treated me like I was some burden. I was trapped in a hospital with no friends, no way out. But I never thought to try to escape that life, and try to make something of myself. You’re pretty awesome.”
Clarissa blushed.
“You’re very odd Aegis. If another boy talked to me like you do, I would probably slit his throat and leave him in a back alley.” She half smirked.
“Well then. I’m glad I’m not on your hit list.” I said.
Clarissa blanched, and for a moment her face turned white with fear, then she came back to herself and walked over to Bright.
“What do I have to do?” She turned her back to me.
Bright looked over Clarissa’s shoulder at me. She had a surprisingly thoughtful expression.
I realized that behind the bubbly, bouncy girl persona, there resided an incredibly powerful, driven, and intelligent personality that I never, EVER wanted to be on the bad side of.
“Well, first off have you ever read a gauge before? It’s a little box with a squiggly line in it ….”
“Are you ready, Aegis?”
Bright was bouncing up and down in place as her over-sized goggles on her head threatened to fall down over her eyes. She held her hands together over her heart and her face was full of anticipation.
“I - I guess?”
I was lying on a rusty iron metal mesh table, my torso and right arm strapped to the cold metal. Just below me was my bottom half and legs. They were so close I could “feel” them touching. It was a very odd sensation. I could almost pretend I had legs again. I felt like I was in some kind of black and white Frankenstein movie.
And Bright was playing the mad scientist to a tee.
“I still don’t see why you have to bind my arms. I’m not a monster.” I said dryly.
Clarissa looked down at me with a half-smile. I was reminded of that moment when I first saw her, looking at me, that moment I awoke. I felt a little uneasy.
“I guess that makes you Igor…” I said, carrying the Frankenstein analogy to it’s absurd end.
“Igor? Who’s Igor?” Clarissa looked around, confused. Her blonde hair whipping around.
“Never mind. I was just reminded of someone I saw in a movie once.” I replied.
Clarissa arched an eyebrow.
“Sometimes you say words, Aegis, but they make no sense.”
She paced nervously - holding a device with two large buttons, a glass covered gauge, and a thick wire that led down to the floor and over to a machine that was making a decidedly loud whooomp whooomp sound.
The table I was lying on was at the far end of the bridge that led to the Source, the pillar of light that seemed to be flowing down from the ceiling in a cascade of coruscating color and sound. I kept thinking about a movie where a programmer had been caught inside a computer and had to face an evil artificial intelligence. I felt I had a lot in common with that guy. I even had glowing arms and … legs perhaps. Was I in some kind of computer simulation as well?
“I’m so excited, Aegis!” Bright moved up to me on the word “excited” and her eyes widened.
“I get to fulfill my Purpose. Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting for you?” Bright tittered and came around to the front of the table, by my head, closest to the Source column.
System Alert: Aegis consciousness may experience unknown levels of discomfort during this process. Reconstruction on this scale has never before been performed. I may not be able to block all the sources of … discomfort.
“In other words, this is going to hurt, right?” I said out loud.
Bright’s face fell.
“Yeah, I’m really sorry about that. I’ve never really done this before without Kenny. Just that first time …” She drifted off, looking upward wistfully.
“I hope you know what you are doing” I cautioned.
My body jerked downward slightly as Bright tugged on the table - it was on wheels and she was starting to pull me toward the Source. She was back lit by the bright column of light, and struck a very slim figure in the contrast. I closed my eyes. I needed to stay focused … or something.
“Are you sure this is going to work?” Clarissa yelled over the increasing hum that was coming from all around the room.
Bright made an exaggerated frown and shrugged her shoulders, lifting her free arm for a moment in a “who knows?” gesture.
“That’s reassuring” I said.
She stopped pulling the table for a moment and pulled her face close to mine and whispered “I’ve never done this alone. I’m kinda scared, really. I hope I don’t mess this up. I hope Kenny didn’t make a mistake creating me like this.”
I looked into her eyes. I was scared as well, and worried that this was going to be the end of me. But I had looked death in the eyes before - every day in that hospital it was the shadow in the corner, the silence between the beeps on the machine. And I was ready for that. I was willing to risk a lot to be whole again. But there was one thing…
“Bright, you said that light is … you. The Source. Is this going to affect you too?” I asked nervously.
I did NOT want anyone else getting hurt because of me. If I somehow cause another person harm ….
Bright looked at me blankly.
“Gee, I don’t know. Maybe?” She grinned and started pulling the table again. She was surprisingly strong for such a small looking girl. But then I remembered she was neither small nor really a girl. That closed off some stray thoughts in my head. My tension increased. We were getting closer.
“Remember ’issa! Hit the green button when we get in the Source! Look at the gauge! When it gets to the red line, push the red button! Okay!” Bright shouted - talking as if Clarissa was some small child.
“Yeah yeah! Okay! I’m not stupid! Green to start. Red to end!” Clarissa waved the box in her hand to show she was holding it.
Oh boy. My life was in the hands of two girls who may or may not like me, and may or may not like each other. I gritted my teeth.
“Okay!” Bright stood right next to the roaring column of light. Her hands were at the edge of the table. I looked up to see the wildly excited look on her face. She was really enjoying this. I smiled despite myself. Her enthusiasm was infectious.
“1, 2, 3 – In we go!”
Bright pulled hard on the table and suddenly we both disappeared into a thunderous wall of light and magic. Energy flowed over me like the pounding weight of a waterfall. All around me was light, and sound. My whole body began to tingle. My WHOLE body! I could begin to feel my legs!
The table was shaking uncontrollably, under the incredible assault from the raw magical energy tearing into it. Suddenly I was vertical. Bright must have rotated the table upward. I faced out into a brilliant expanse of energy. For some reason, even though the light should have been blinding, my eyes adjusted. I felt like I was staring into the sun.
Bright walked around from behind the table. It was Bright, but NOT BRIGHT.
She still had the form of a woman, with her short cut hair, almond shaped eyes, and upturned nose, but her eyes were twin coals of blue light - like sapphire stars. Her body was enveloped with a cloud of rainbow colored shapes that turned and twisted in phenomenal patterns that would make fractals weep from their complexity. She stood tall and straight, almost exultant. I was awed by the sheer power I was experiencing all around me, as well as the look she was giving me. Not like love, or even something as warm as friendship. It was like seeing the other part of one’s soul. She looked at me with an open admiration that caused me to blush. I was essentially naked, but I’d never felt more exposed than I did now, not even in the hospital when nurses would have to help me undress when I felt particularly weak that day.
It was as if Bright and I were two halves of a whole that was greater than either of us could imagine. She reached up and touched my cheek. A thrill of energy coursed through me like nothing I had ever felt. Like being struck by lightning, but the bolt continued to pour energy through my body.
And then, there it was … PAIN.
There was a SNAP as the bonds holding my arms and legs broke away. Pain sliced me in two as Bright held my eyes. I could not look away. The metal of the table melted under the intense energy and began to flow down around my sides. I screamed as a pain so intense it burned into my soul. Blinding, searing , all consuming pain ripped me apart and put me back together again.
The metal of the table was being weaved into my body. Bright moved impossibly fast - turning and manipulating light, magic, arcane symbols, and SHAPED me. Every segment of my golem body was pulled apart, examined, and reformed. This was NOT what I was expecting. I was thinking I’d feel some pain when I got “reconnected” but I did NOT expect to have my whole body, mind, and soul to be RIPPED APART and rebuilt from scratch.
The necklace at my chest dissolved under the onslaught of magical energy pounding my body. The orb glowed with a fierce blue energy that matched the frightening blue stars of Bright’s eyes. It drifted in the air in front of me for a moment, then Bright bent down and kissed the orb once again. My body shivered. Never in my life had I experienced anything like this. Raw power, complex magic, the sight of this entity looking at me as if I completed her.
The orb drifted back to my chest, then with a flash it EMBEDDED itself into my chest above my heart. Blue lightning played across my arm, chest and legs - burning and etching across the surface of my skin in impossibly complex patterns. The runes that had been there before melted away before these new, far more ornate symbols.
My body was heating up. The metal was was beginning to glow a dull yellow. The pain was climbing higher and higher.
Clarissa!
Bright looked at me with fear in her eyes. She turned to try to leave the Source. To contact Clarissa. To stop me from turning into a slag of metal on the bottom of some pillar of magical energy.
Warning! Heat exceeding safe limits. Aegis. We must complete this process and exit immediately.
“I can’t move! Aghghgh!!”
I saw Bright bite her lip and start shouting at me. The noise was too intense for my ears, I could only hear roaring. The heat was rising higher and higher.
Suddenly - like a giant hand - a huge piece of metal swung in from somewhere and struck me on the side - I went flying . An instant later I was out of the Source and hurling toward the wall of the dome-like room.
I hit the wall with a crash and slid down to the floor. My body was glowing an intense red - as if I were a hot coal in a blacksmith’s fireplace. The remains of a bookshelf was around me. The parts of the wood touching me burst into flames.
Engaging temperature reduction measures.
Between screams, I heard Interface. I opened my eyes.
Before me was a scene of chaos. Clarissa was standing on the side, her eyes wide and her hands to her face. Next to her was Argent, wielding his immense sword. It was glowing with heat. Steam was escaping from valves all over it’s body, and it turned to look at me. Something must have gone wrong with the device. Clarissa had probably run all the way back to Argent to get his help. Her face was red and she was panting with exhaustion.
Bright appeared from the Source. She looked beautiful and fierce and deadly all at the same time. She looked at Argent, then at Clarissa. She did a 180 in the air and turned to me. Her face made an OH and she arced across the room to me.
“Aegis! Are you ok? Did it work?” She looked over me like a worried mother - poking and prodding in places all over and shaking my shoulder.
I looked down at my body. The glow was fading. Instead of a brassy sheen with odd, angular runes everywhere, my body was black and dull - like scorched wood. But, pulsing in my chest was the blue orb. Every few seconds the orb would grow bright and the light would play like a spiderweb all over my body - flowing from the orb down my chest, arms and legs and fade away. Like a magical blue tracing of a frozen lightning bolt.
Wait. My. Legs. MY LEGS!
I stood up shakily - I was pretty tall, I guess. I looked down at Bright who was now about up to my chin. She gave me a big grin.
I turned to look at Clarissa. She was bent over, her head down, her hands on her knees, panting.
“Clarissa!” I walked shakily over to her and put my hand on her shoulder.
That was a mistake.
I was still scorching hot!
“Oww! Don’t touch me!” She yelled and fell backwards onto her backside with a thud. Her shoulder was smoking.
Bright ran over, a concerned look on her face. She was back to wearing her sundress. It must have been her default appearance.
She pulled Clarissa into a tight embrace. She placed her hand on Clarissa’s shoulder and the smoking stopped.
“Ohh! Thank you so much Clarissa! You did it! Although I have to say enlisting Argent was a bit of an unexpected touch!” Bright laughed.
“The golden haired one called to me. She said your device failed to work.” The brass knight turned to me with his glowing eyes.
“I hope I did not injure you, young master Aegis.”
“No, not really.” I looked down at my body, and my legs. Everything seemed to be in working order. Better even. I felt an immense power flowing through me. Like a cool, rapid stream under a bridge. It was calm now only because I was not directing the flow. But the potential was beyond anything I could have imagined. The space where my left arm should be was closed off. No longer exposed wires and gears. Would I ever be completely whole again?
System Alert! Upgrade detected.
Bright let Clarissa go and Clarissa blushed.
“You saved me. Again” I said to Clarissa. She smiled briefly and looked down.
“You look … different” Clarissa said.
“Oh, he’s more than just different, ’issa.” Bright chirped.
“He’s better.” Her eyes glowed briefly. “Much better.”
System Alert! Update requires system wide reset. Reset in 5 … 4… 3…
My eyes widened “Wait - Interface!” I called out and raised my hands helplessly. I took a step back.
The world turned black.
I drifted in the darkness. I was alone. No voices. No Interface. No Bright. No … Clarissa.
All was peace. Nothingness.
Then, a ripple in the darkness.
meow
Meow? My awareness returned like a light shining on the face of a clock.
“Hello?” My voice echoed in the darkness. I was nothing. Thoughts and a voice.
meow
There it was again. More ripples in the dark.
Then, I was THERE. Standing on the shore of the pond. I blinked. All around me was grey nothingness. The ground beneath me was slate grey sand. The water was like mercury. Silver, fluid, slow. The sky was a lighter grey - like an eternal twilight that would never see a new dawn.
I turned my head. Where … ?
‘Hello my shield’ came a voice.
It was a strong woman’s voice. It had a resonant quality like a kindly grandmother.
Then, there was a cat standing before me. Black as night. Piercing blue eyes that thrilled me with … fear?
“Hello, cat? Who are you? What is this place?”
The cat blinked and proceeded to lick its front paw, lazily.
I stood there, looking around. I could feel the sand between my toes. It was a wonderful feeling after having no legs for so long. Normally I would have demanded answers, with extreme impatience. But the solemness of the place - and the presence of the cat filled me with hope and dread in equal measure.
“You’re the cat from before, the one I saw before I woke up. Am I in a dream?”
I swore he could hear a slight chuckle from the cat. I shuddered.
‘A dream? A dream within a dream? Or maybe this is the true reality, my little shield.’ the cat spoke soundlessly. Not in my ears but directly to my mind.
Sighing, I sat down in the sand and crossed my legs. The sand was warm - slightly warmer than my own body. I glanced down at my hand. Still just one arm.
I guess even in dreams, I can’t be whole I thought to myself.
‘You will be someday, Aegis. But wholeness of body will not stop the danger you will face. Time is very short, yet you will have all the time you need. Until you will wish you had just a moment more.’
“I must be in a game. This must be a simulation. I’m still in a vat in a laboratory somewhere, aren’t I? Am I dying?” A tear fell from my’ eye.
The cat’s eyes glowed suddenly. It’s hair rose on the back of its neck. It stood and growled.
‘This is no game, Aegis. This is LIFE, and LIGHT. The ones who will depend on you to defend them are no apparitions of your imagination!’
“I - I’m sorry!” My hand came up in defense.
Suddenly, the cat was calm again. It sauntered up to me and placed a paw on my leg.
‘Much will be asked of you, my shield. Everything you have. Everything you are. Do not be fooled by your own past, your own preconceptions. You must become a student of knowledge. You must learn all that you can about who you are, and why you are here. Will you do that for me?’
The cat looked up into my eyes. I could see them glow in the unearthly twilight of the strange place I was in.
“O .. okay? Can you tell me who you are?” I answered. I slowly reached down to touch the cat.
‘No. Not yet. You are not ready. Look for my sign if you get lost.’
My hand brushed the cat’s ear. Suddenly the paw touching my leg grew claws and it scratched my leg deeply. The world was suddenly an explosion of light and sound.
“… Aegis … Aegis! Wake up!”
[Upgrade complete.]
[Automatic Electronic Generalized Information System : AEGIS.
System v0.02
Damage report: Repairs complete. Missing left arm compensation in place. Torso and legs have been reintegrated. Mana upgrade complete. Power at 100%.]
Interface? Are you there? I thought. My eyes fluttered.
[Location query: I am … here. There is no other location I can be.]
Did you see that .. cat? I thought.
[Query: cat? There is currently no feline life signs within my scanning radius. However there are three life signs near you, asking about your current state of consciousness]
I chuckled. I opened my eyes.
Somehow, I was back in Clarissa’s home, in her bed.
Gee, I should NOT be making a habit of this I thought to myself.
“Oh, you’re awake now? All done … fixing yourself?” It was Clarissa, hands on hips, dressed once again in a light green dress at the foot of the bed. No sign of her “Tomb Raider” clothing. She seemed both concerned and annoyed at the same time. She was biting her lip. Her blond curls bounced as she turned her head to the door.
Her father walked in briskly and strode up to the bed.
“Hello Gier” I said amiably.
“Don’t you Hello Gier me young … man!” His eyes were red and his hands were in fists. Fear and anger played across his face.
“Clarissa tells me you forced her to go to Mir castle to fetch your … legs. And you encountered Goblins! What were you thinking, taking my daughter into danger like that?”
“I’m sorry! I would never let anything happen to your daughter.”
A thought pulsed through me … THE SHIELD.
“Well, after what happened yesterday, and now this? I don’t know who or what you are, but you aren’t welcome here any more. You hear me? Get out!” Gier was shouting, and waving his hands angrily.
I glanced over to Clarissa who shook her head imperceptibly. Well, I had been sold out by my friend, so she’d avoid getting in trouble with her dad. That felt familiar. It had happened to me before, in school. Why should this be any different?
Angrily, I stood up from the bed. Somehow the magic that covered my body was active, and I also seemed to have on a rough shirt and breeches. Clarissa’s eyes were wide with innocence and she came around the bed to me. Hesitantly, she touched my arm.
“You should go. There’s an Inn just down the street from here. Here’s some coins” She pressed a small bag into my hand. It felt odd - like it had more than coins in it. She placed her hand over mine to cover the bag.
“I’m sure you’ll be OK.”
She looked at me with wide eyes and tilted her head, almost imperceptibly. Was she trying to tell me something?
“Get out! Stay away from my daughter!” Gier was furious.
Bud appeared from outside the door and barked. He was growling at Gier.
“Hey! Bud! Come here!” I called.
Immediately the brown dog ran up to me and I rubbed his face. At least SOME one still liked me. My body felt weird. Everything seemed to feel … smoother. And I was standing! I grinned inwardly and faced Gier.
“Thank you for saving me. And for your hospitality.” I turned to Clarissa. “Good bye, Clarissa.”
She blanched and put her hands behind her back. She looked down at the floor.
I was angry. Angry at myself for believing I could have friends. And how had I gotten back here, to Gier’s house?
Interface, can you locate the nearest Inn?
[Query: Inn. Affirmative. Location to a building matching your query has been added to your internal directional sense.]
I blinked. I felt a subtle pulling in a certain direction. I my mind’s eye I could see a map of the town, with a dot where I was currently, and a blinking path to another building a ways down the street. Nodding to myself, I paced out of the room. Gier glared at me as I left. I tried to catch Clarissa’s eye but she had turned away.
Angry again, I strode out of the house and into the street. Slamming the door behind me as I left. They didn’t deserve that, I thought. I looked up and down the busy street. People were walking along the sidewalks, going about their business. Bud followed closely - walking ahead for a moment, then coming back to make sure I was still there. A horse and carriage rode by - looking like something out of one of my role playing games. There was a twinge in my leg, where the cat had scratched me..
[Alert! Minor damage detected in the right front leg. Commencing repair protocols.]
Ow. Apparently, as much as it might look like it, this was reality. And I was getting a full dose of it today. I looked back at Clarissa’s house. Her face was in the window for a moment, then the curtain was pulled back. I arched my eyebrow.
Girls.
Sighing, I made my way down the street, carefully avoiding other townsfolk. The buildings around me grew taller and I passed by more shops and stores. I paused to look into several interesting shops. One was a weapon shop - full of pointy looking swords and other dangerous weapons. Another was a bakery. I could smell the fresh bread and my mouth watered. Bud barked at me as I paused.
What?
Why would THAT happen? I wasn’t hungry. I probably didn’t have much of a stomach. I remembered that I had drank water. Could I eat as well? Where would it go?
[Query: food consumption is possible. Your creator gave you the sense of taste as well as the ability to swallow and process organic material. It was to make you appear more … human]
Thanks Interface. Any idea where things … go? I felt embarrassed asking.
[Query: waste products are incinerated within your internal matrix. Any heat generated is used as an energy source. Other wastes are stored for later repurposing]
Interface, do you know anything about the currency system here? Did Clarissa give me enough money to get a room at this Inn we are going to?
[Kendranen Mir has given me access to many systems within this realm. One of which is the currency system. Please inspect the bag for confirmation of the currency]
I was still holding the bag Clarissa had given me. I walked away from the crowds and sat down at a bench near a small fountain. Bud bumped my leg and sat down beside me. I untied the bag and several coins fell into my palm. There was something else in the bag. It was a folded piece of paper.
That’s odd, I thought.
[Currency is sufficient to purchase several day’s lodging at the closest Inn. However, it is advised that you do not use all of the currency to stay there more than one night. ]
Why’s that? I asked as I unfolded the piece of paper.
[This Inn is not your permanent housing location]
Oh? And where might my ‘permanent housing location be’?
[Query: Your home is Castle Mir.]
Oh. Hm. Might want to let the Goblins know about that.
I turned the paper over. There was some writing on it. It looked like gibberish to me.
[Processing. Reading comprehension sub-processing activated.]
Suddenly, I could read it. It was a very strange feeling. Like the words had just jumped from the page.
[[ I’m sorry Aegis. My father does not know about my life outside our home. Please don’t be mad! I want to see you again. Meet me in the lobby of your Inn (The Merry Maid) tomorrow at 6 bells. If you don’t show up, I understand. – Clarissa]]
I stared at the note.
She wasn’t throwing me under the bus! A small thrill made me shudder slightly. Maybe this world wasn’t as bad as I thought. I jumped up and ran the rest of the way to the Inn, a lopsided smile on my face. Bud followed with a tail that wagged vigorously.
I couldn’t help but take my sweet time as I walked to the Inn. I kept pausing to rotate my ankles or do a deep knee bend - testing out my new torso and legs. Folks walking around me either stared in wonder at this goofy looking clown boy with a missing arm dancing a jig as he fumbled down the street.
One plump mother in a plain dress with a wiggly child scooped her baby up and nearly got herself killed crossing the cobblestone road. A gilded carriage bearing some noble shouted as she crossed in front of the well groomed horses.
After that, I limited my motions to walking slowly and soon I became once again another ignored face in the crowd.
I approached the Merry Maid with some trepidation. After all, I knew that was going to spend some amount of time there, and hopefully it wasn’t some smoke filled parlor with seedy characters and unsavory types. I didn’t expect much but what I encountered surprised me. Instead of a dark smoky enclosed bar with creepy people, it was as if a coffee shop and an outdoor restaurant had merged, along with a small hotel.
The front of the Inn featured a colorful picture of a laughing barmaid with a mug of beer in each hand. Large windows with wide awnings allowed tables to be set out on the sidewalk and a number of smiling, happy villagers were sitting and talking - drinking something that smelled strongly of coffee and spices. The clientele seemed like young, middle class folks and nary a seedy type to be found. The men seemed dressed in dark breeches with suspenders and light colored shirts. Some wore jackets and … were those top hats? I chuckled inwardly. Some of the men had beards and something called “mutton chops”. The women were often wearing dresses and carried tiny umbrellas, while others seemed more comfortable in pants that looked to me like something a jockey might wear. I wondered at the social norms of this town.
“…This world” I thought to myself.
I was in another world, one in which magic existed, along with spirits, machines, and goblins - among other things. I thought about Bright, and the Source. I clutched at the magic gem in my chest, hidden by the magic that even now was making me look like a “real boy”.
I chuckled. I never in a million years would imagine a world where I was essentially a mechanical Pinocchio with a magical girl as my guide. But my Gepetto was … dead.
I frowned as darker thoughts filled my head. My hand pushed the door open to the Inn and I could see the interior was well-lit and busy with folks coming and going as well as sitting at rough wooden tables. The overall cheerfulness of the place chased away the shadows of my thoughts and I smiled inwardly. The lobby was essentially a coffee shop type set up with large glass windows facing the street, tables arranged along the walls and around the floor - with all sorts of folks talking, drinking, and eating. Along the back wall was a long wooden bar with a serving girl rushing around dispensing drinks. On the right side a stern looking man with coke bottle glasses and severe black hair was checking in someone for a room.
Steeling myself, I approached the counter.
“Hello, I would like to get a room for the night,” I said.
The stern man gave me an appraising look, which was somewhat disconcerting, given his dramatically enlarged eyes behind huge round glasses.
“And who might you be, young sir. I’ve not seen you around here before.”
I panicked quietly inside.
Interface, help me! What’s a good story to tell this man?
[Query: You are from a merchant’s family and you are here to seek out an apprenticeship with the local merchant’s guild. You’ve been given a stipend from your father and you wish to stay the night at this inn to get your bearings.]
Wow! Thanks Interface!
Somehow I could almost see in my mind’s eye - the strange A.I. within me smiled. How could I sense that?
I relayed the story to the innkeeper who frowned over his glasses.
“A merchant’s son? Here to seek your fortune?” He asked.
I nodded weakly. I tried to give him a winning smile, but instead I think I looked a bit freakishly manic.
“So, let’s see your papers, son” The innkeeper asked, turning his hand palm upward to receive the paperwork.
[Notice: reach into your pants pocket, Aegis] Interface prompted.
Without thinking, my hand fell to my pants and reached into my pocket. My fingers felt the edges of a piece of paper and I quickly produced the paperwork.
I hope this works! I thought to Interface. How did you do that?
The Innkeeper scrutinized the paper and looked back at me several times.
Nervously, I scratched a nonexistent itch behind my head. I had a flashback to a time when I was applying to the school soccer team. I had been bugging my dad for months, asking to be allowed to join because I felt lonely at school, and was having a hard time making friends. I thought that if I joined a sports team, at least I would be able to interact with other kids during practice, and maybe even make some friends. My father had been reluctant to go through the process, which involved documenting my activities in soccer when I was younger, as well as other sports I participated in, like football.
After much pestering and cajoling by both me and my mom, he eventually caved and took me to see the soccer coach. I think he believed it was a waste of his time. The coach was equally reluctant, but said he’d give me a chance based on the strength of the history of games I had played. It was one of the few times my dad had come through for me. I felt like I was a tremendous burden to him, almost always, but at least that once, he was willing to spend some time to help me do something I felt strongly about.
I blinked and came back to the here and now. The Innkeeper was staring at me with a key in his hand.
“Well, do you want a room or not?” He sounded annoyed.
“Yes! I mean, yes sir. Thanks!” I reached for the key, but he pulled it up and away at the last moment and turned his head sideways to me.
“Um, there’s the matter of payment. Mister Aegis.” He regarded me with a mixture of boredom and annoyance.
[Query: The illusion magic that controls your appearance was extended to include the paper Clarissa gave you. It was a simple matter to transform the words to a suitable reference.]
“Oh, yes! Of course.” I reached into the pocket again and produced the coins Interface had suggested - in the right amount.
The Innkeeper snatched the coins and dropped the key on the counter.
“Room 158. Checkout is at noon tomorrow, unless you want to keep the room for another night. Dinner and breakfast is provided here in our open eating area. Same meal for everyone. If you want something special the cost is extra. No … visitors.” He eyed me suspiciously.
“No, sir. I understand. May I stay out here while I’m a guest here?” I gestured to the tables.
He nodded and then started as he realized I only had one arm.
“Good God, what happened to you, son?” He asked as he gazed at my left shoulder.
Feeling a bit adventurous, I decided to go bold.
“I fought off a goblin attack a few years ago. They got my arm before I could beat them off…” I made some mock chopping motions with my right arm.
Agast, the innkeeper stared at me with his huge eyes. A moment later he handed my paper back and a few wooden tokens.
“These are your food tokens. - And here-” He tossed a few more tokens - they looked larger and different with a symbol of a glass on them. “- here’s a few drink tokens. On the house. Don’t tell anyone I gave them to you.”
I tried to give him a winning smile and gathered up the tokens and the key.
I went immediately to the room and checked it out. Since I had no belongings I flopped onto the clean but plain bed and looked out the window. The room was sparsely furnished, with an oak cabinet for clothes, a bed with well worn cotton blankets, and a small table with a lamp. Not a modern lamp, mind you, but one of those old fashioned oil lamps.
I was startled by a knock at the door. Could it be Clarissa? Come a day early? Cautiously, I opened the door to see the serving girl from the bar downstairs. She looked at me somewhat shyly.
“Hello?” I asked.
“Um. Is your name Aegis? That’s right? You’re listed as being in room 158.” She was holding something behind her back. She smiled slightly with a bit of a mischievous look in her eyes.
“Um, yeah. Is something wrong?” I started.
“Oh no no. Not at all. It’s just you had a package delivered, and they said you had to get it right away.” She smirked, and produced a small square object wrapped in plain paper.
Bemused, I took the package from her. It was surprisingly heavy. I was guessing it was a book of some sort. Then I stared. There was a symbol stamped into the paper. A black cat.
Look for my sign … The cat had said.
The barmaid was still standing there, with a bit of an expectant look on her face. She waggled her eyebrows.
“Oh, yes. Just a moment.”
Interface, what’s a good amount for a tip?
[Query: What is a …tip?]
Oh never mind I answered in my head.
I took out a coin at random and handed it to her. Her eyes widened and a huge grin crossed her red lips. She had perfect, white teeth, and her hair was red with ringlets. I looked at her again, really noticing her. She looked down shyly and with a curtsy was gone. I caught the scent of roses. It must have been her perfume.
Blinking, I shook myself a bit and sat back down on the bed. The noonday sunlight was streaming in the big window, and I could hear the sounds of the street below. The package was wrapped with a bit of twine, and I was having some trouble opening it with one hand.
Sighing, I found a folded corner and tore the paper away. With a sudden inspiration, I held the package with my foot and pulled away the string. This revealed a thick leather bound book with a golden frame. In the sunlight the cover of the book gleamed. In the center of the cover was a golden dome shaped circle, split horizontally.
What the heck was this?
The book was bound by a lock holding it closed.
[Alert! High amounts of mana detected. Source appears to be the object before you]
Is it dangerous? I asked in my head.
The book shuddered. The golden dome cracked open along the horizontal split. It wasn’t a dome at all, it was an eye! I jumped back in surprise, nearly falling off the bed. The eye moved to orient on me and blinked.
“Oh yes! Quite dangerous.” the book said.
And then I really did manage to fall off the bed.
“Ow” I said, standing and rubbing my backside.
If I’m a golem, how is it that I feel pain? I thought to myself . Bud decided it was a good time to lick my face. Ugh.
[Response: Your pain receptors are set up to simulate actual situations where you would have felt pain if you were organic. It is to facilitate your adaptation to this new form. In addition, it can communicate actual damage in the most efficient way.]
“Oh, so you’re saying I feel pain, for my own good?” I said out loud to Interface as I looked over at the book lying on my bed.
[Response: Affirmative]
“Pain is part of life, Aegis. Without pain, pleasure would be empty and without meaning.” The odd book said.
“What? What are you? Are you a book? A monster? What?” I asked tentatively. I tensed, ready to bolt out the door.
The eye turned to look directly at me. It was very eerie.
“I am Archive. What you see before you is a magical construct by the wizard Kendranen Mir. I represent the access point to the sum total of all the magical information your creator accumulated in Castle Kendranen before he … disappeared.” The book had a deep voice - like a blues club singer or something.
“So, you’re like a … laptop? Or an iPad for magic huh?” I asked as I sat back down on the bed. I touched the surface of the book tentatively.
The one eye blinked.
“I have no reference for the words that you are saying. I do not rest on the top of laps. Nor do I have feet to pad.”
I laughed.
“If you’re a magical book, do you know about my Interface?” I asked.
“If you are referring to the logic construct within you that controls your body, I am aware of it.” It replied dryly.
I was reminded of a history professor I had in high school. A Mr. Patterson. He was always lecturing us about life, but he was never patronizing. He was smarter than most of us, and he knew it. He just didn’t rub it in our faces. He also had a pocket protector.
I sighed and ran my hand across my forehead. It ‘felt’ real. I was beginning to wonder if anything I’ve ever felt was real, however.
“So, Archive, did Bright send you?” I was still wondering about the cat symbol on the package.
“No”. It replied. And then completely did not elaborate.
Well then.
“So, ah, Archive. Are you a person somewhere, talking though this book? Or are you … just a magical book” I wiggled my fingers at the “magical” part for emphasis.
The book blinked it’s one big eye, slowly, like a frog. “As I said. I’m a magical construct. My physical manifestation on this plane of existence is what you see before you.”
“This plane? You mean there are others?” I asked without thinking.
“Of course.” The book lock popped open and the book unfolded, the pages spinning rapidly. Then they stopped. Written in cursive handwriting I could barely make out, the words “Other Planes”′ appeared. Below it were four squares full of swirling rainbow colors. In a moment each one resolved to a different scene. One showed a ship on a stormy ocean. It was so incredibly detailed, and it moved! The ship was being tossed about by huge grey stormy waves, and lightning flashed. In the box to the right of it was a red-sunned desert. As I squinted I could see the waves of heat coming off the sand, like a mirage. Below that was an icy mountain picture, with what I thought were bats flying around a craggy peak. I blinked when I realized those were not bats, but very far away dragons! The last box to the left of that made me catch my breath. It was a scene at night. The stars were dim from some kind of haze. I could see lights at regular intervals over a paved road. In the distance I could see … a McDonald’s sign glowing in the distance!
I jumped up to the book. Pointing at the tiny square with my only hand.
“There! That’s my home!”
I was panting suddenly, fear and excitement washed over me like a sudden shower of cold water.
“Archive! Can you take me there? Is that a live cam?” I yelled.
“No. And no. I do not understand your reference. A cam is a rotary device used to convey motion. You save several cams within you. But they are not”alive” the book said dryly.
[Notice: Aegis, this magical construct does not “get” your slang vocabulary from your world. Would you like me to assist?] Interface offered in my head.
“What?” I was too stunned by the little scene before me. A tiny car passed by in the night.
“Oh, sure. What should I do?”
[Query response: touch the book]
I hesitated. In many of the fantasy games I had played, touching a magical artifact resulted in lots of magical sparkles, lots of pain, and me with my butt sprawled on the floor again.
“Archive, may I … touch you? My Interface wants to chat with you” I asked.
The book cover partially closed, then reopened. I could have sworn that was a bookish shrug. I grinned.
“OK Interface, here goes” I replied and placed my palm on the page with the tiny moving pictures.
[Aegis, please say something to trigger your intention to interact with this magical construct.]
“Oh? OK, how about ‘Log in Aegis’?” I replied.
Suddenly, light flared from the blue orb on my chest. It had been so quiet and inactive I had almost forgotten it was there. My whole body hummed. Power flowed from my chest down my arm to the book. It was starting to shudder. Then suddenly -
Pain.
White light flooded my vision.
Time to pass out again, I guess.
I woke to find myself lying face down on my bed. My hand was still on the book. I smelt something, like a bit like wood smoke. Bud was whining and pulling at my leg, which was conveniently hanging off the bed for him to tug on with his teeth.
“Ow.” I said, it was the most intelligent thing I could think of, at first. Since, you know, pain.
[Query: Aegis. Are you ‘all right?’ I was temporarily unable to modulate the mana flow due to my unfamiliarity with the Archive’s interface requirements]
“Uhhhh. What?” I actually had slobber on my lips? Does a golem drool? I guess I do.
“Hello Aegis.” - there was a new voice in the room.
I sat up quickly. Lots of places on my body hurt. Including my head.
“Let’s … not do that again, Interface. OK?”
“No need, Aegis. I have acquired the information from your Interface to adequately converse with you, with ‘your words’.” The new voice said.
It seemed to be coming from the book. But, didn’t it have some deep blues club singer voice? Wait. I remembered that voice. I had heard it almost every day in class. In History class! I pushed myself up with my one arm. I was pretty strong, it seemed, as I lifted myself up easily despite the pain. The page my hand had been on was now completely blank. Or rather, there were no more pictures, or writing. There WAS however a scorched impression of my hand on the page. There was even still a little smoke.
“Hold up. Hold right up.” I sat up groggily.
“Holding, Aegis.” The book seemed to be grinning. How was that possible?
“I recognise that voice. Mister …. Mister Patterson?”
“Quite right my boy” - Mister Patterson always called me “My Boy” in class. It was super annoying.
“Um. What just happened?” I asked.
“Well, Aegis, it didn’t ‘just happen’. You’ve been out for oh, I think about 3 hours.” The book closed itself and the beady eye regarded me. Some odd chuffing sound came from it. Was it laughing?
“OK, maybe I’m really crazy now? This fantasy world is now really just some kind of nightmare?” I asked weakly.
“Not at all my boy. I’ve merely acquired your memory engrams of this person you looked up to in your previous existence, and using your Interface’s processing power, we constructed a personality profile that is compatible with your past experiences, in order to facilitate a conducive interaction profile”
Yup, that was Mister Patterson. Always ten words when one word would have been just as good.
“How are you … Mister Patterson?” I asked. Then… I processed what he had just said.
The book sighed. “I just said this, my boy. I took the memories of your history teacher and applied them to my own persona. So I can interact with you more efficiently.”
“Yeah, yeah. I get it now. But, why? How?”
[Query: when I was downloading your memories for my own interaction processing, I acquired a number of useful personas with which to interact with you. This one matched the Archive’s own needs the closest.]
I sat down at the head of the bed and stared. I was in a fantasy world, with magic, strange abilities, amazing women who actually wanted to be around me ( well at least one - Bright didn’t really count, did she?), and a dead wizard who for some reason thought it would be fun to pull me into this world, and now my history teacher was talking to me through a magical book.
I rubbed my face with my hand. I looked over at the stump of my left shoulder. I was incomplete. Someone had tried to kill me in this world - or at least the golem part. And apparently someone had successfully murdered an extremely powerful and intelligent wizard in the process. A chill ran down my back.
“So Mister Patterson -”
“Archive, my boy. I’m not your old teacher. I’m still a magical book with almost limitless knowledge of this world, and others. I’m just a bit more able to talk with you in a way you can understand. But still respect.”
Uggggh. This was going to get old fast.
“Okay, okay, Archive. Are you OK? It looks like I may have burnt one of your pages.” I asked. The last thing I wanted to do is piss off an insanely powerful magical artifact the moment I actually meet it.
“Sure, my boy. I’m”OK”. If you are referring to the burnt page. It’s actually a part of the spell you cast. It essentially brands me to your service. Forever.”
“Oh! I , uh, hope that’s OK with you?” I offered, running my hands through my hair.
The book’s eye blinked.
“Of course. … um… no one’s ever actually asked me about how I felt about things before. This is a first! You are quite a unique boy, Aegis. I look forward to interacting with you.”
[Alert: Incoming transmission ] Interface buzzed in my head.
“Uh, what? How’s that possible? Is there internet in this world? Wireless?” I asked Interface.
[Query: internet and wireless do not exist in this world. The source of the transmission is unknown. I was not previously aware we were capable of this form of communication. A new subroutine has been activated within our systems.]
“It kinda makes me feel a little better that you don’t simply know all and see all, Interface. What is this transmission?”
“Ah, my boy, if you are referring to the alert your Interface must have given you, I have some knowledge of that. When you connected to me via magic, that triggered a spell that has been lying dormant back at the castle. It is a special spelled message intended just for you.” Archive intoned.
I picked up the book. It was warm. The leather of the binding was supple and soft. It was kinda creepy. Was this book alive? The big eye on the cover was also pretty disturbing.
“So, how could anyone possibly know I would be here, to send me a message? Who is it from?”
Archive blinked. “Isn’t it obvious, my boy? It’s from Kendranen Mir!”
I was reeling.
Kendranen Mir! The wizard who … ‘created’ me. And maybe a key to find out what happened to him. And perhaps a key to this mystery that had pulled me into another world. And … a cat? I was still just in some kind of reactive mode. Going from one thing to the next like a soccer ball bouncing from foot to foot. Where was the goal? Was there even a goal? And who were the players?
I closed my eyes and shook myself inwardly. If this was a game, I would already be plotting my path through the game. Finding out how to get equipment, how to get supplies, how to “level up”. Instead I kept getting hit by new things in this world before I could even respond to the previous ones.
The sun was getting lower in the sky - it was way past noon and heading toward evening. I looked out the window and saw the sprawling city. A crazy maze of streets, people of all walks of life moving about. Horse drawn carriages of all shapes and sizes travelling to some unknown destination. Something caught my eye. Was that - was that a zeppelin in the air? I shook my head in wonder.
This was real. It HAD to be. I could smell horses, smoke, and other less pleasant things. I lifted my hand before my face. I mentally turned off the camouflage spell that made me look human and looked at my arm. The blue orb was pulsing faintly in my chest. At every pulse, I could see lines of light travelling across my body - almost like cars travelling down narrow, angular, twisty roads - to the tips of my fingers and toes. Oh my gosh! I had toes again! I wiggled them and chuckled inwardly.
“Uh. Um. Aegis?” Archive began.
“Yes.” I coughed. The camouflage covered my body once again. Somehow clothes appeared as well? I mentally shrugged. Magic.
[Query: Are you ready to receive this message, Aegis?] Interface sounded insistent. I had a mental image of a puppy bouncing up and down - eager to fetch the stick. I smiled.
“Okay, okay guys. Yes. Let’s hear the message.” I took a deep breath.
A figure appeared before me. He was dressed in a grey business suit, all trim and straight lines and edges. I nearly fell out of the bed …. AGAIN.
“Whoah, what is this? A hologram?” I asked.
The man stared off vaguely to my right. It was as if he was looking out the window.
He was not as old as I envisioned. He looked about 40-ish. His short cut hair was slightly grey. It matched his suit. He had a kind looking face with a close cropped beard in sort of a soft goatee. He seemed extremely clean cut, businesslike. I was expecting a floppy hatted, wrinkly, hunch backed wizard with a big staff and sticks in his hair. What I was looking at was more like an older Bruce Wayne or something. His eyes were a deep blue. Impossibly blue. And, he was wearing a monocle. That seemed a little cliche.
“Hello Aegis. My name is Kendranen Mir. I know you have a lot of questions. And, as a matter of fact, I have a lot of answers. However, I’m sorry to say they will not come easily. If you are seeing this projection, it means my worst fears have come to fruition, and I was not able to prevent the events from unfolding as I had predicted. In all likelihood, I’m dead. Or worse. I’m very sorry to be placing you in this position, Aegis. But I see so much potential in you. Potential that was about to be horribly wasted in your own world. You see, you were dying. And that was not something any of your world’s science would be able to prevent.”
I cringed. I had accepted death a long time ago. But this place had given me a new hope. Facing that mortality again was hard. I bit my lip.
“Why me?” I asked.
The projection continued on, seemingly unable to respond to my question.
“You are probably trying to speak to me, but unfortunately this is merely a projection. I have instilled within you a “program” - is that how your world calls it? It’s an interface that allows your spirit to reside within the body of the magically animated golem I have created for you. This body has abilities far beyond your wildest imagination. But those days are ahead of you. I must ask several things of you, Aegis. First, that you trust me. You will discover many people of this world will at first seem to be one thing, and they will instead be another. This world is full of what you call “magic” but it also has science as well. There are many more wizards like me. And some of them are not nearly as scrupulous as I am. You must keep yourself hidden within my castle. I’m sure by now you have encountered your counterpart - Bright.”
He paused to smile. He had nice teeth. His eyes smiled as well. I found myself liking this poor guy.
“She is very … unorthodox. But it is in her nature as a being of Mana. You must treat her with kindness, friendship, but also respect. She is an example of what I just mentioned. On the surface she may seem to just be a bubbly girl with powers. But beneath the surface she is far more. You must NOT let her get into the wrong hands. She is as much a part of you as your interface, or your own very soul. Remember this!”
His face had turned red. I cringed a bit. Even though it was just a projection, he was a formidable man. I would never want to be on his bad side.
“Secondly, you must become a student of magic. You are a being of magic, and science as well, but more than that. More of that I cannot say for now, but suffice to say I have created a few more artifacts that will help you learn magic. One has the appearance of a book. It is called Archive.”
I looked down at the book. The eye blinked at me a few times. It seemed to be smiling.
“Archive is a magical manifestation of all my acquired knowledge. It will help you learn to use magic. In time, you might even surpass me. I have instilled that potential within you.”
I sucked in my breath. I felt like I was getting my “quest”. Every time I was convinced this world was real, things like this happened, that reminded me of a game. I was so confused.
“What about the cat?” I asked.
“Lastly,” he continued - still ignoring me or unable to respond - “I need your help. You must find who has … put an end to me. With all my powers and resources, they have kept themselves unknown to me. There are many dark powers in this world. And many that will be glad to see me dead. But of them I am keenly aware. The force that acts against me is of a different order.”
I remembered the malevolent presence I had almost encountered when I first came to this world. And the hooded figure that literally beat me with my own arm. And then there was the cat.
“What can I do? I’m a nobody? I don’t even know the first thing about magic.” I asked.
The wizard turned toward me and looked me in the eye. I froze. My body would not respond.
[Warning: something has taken over our functions. I am unable to compensate.]
“Aegis. This is no game. This world is not a plaything. These are real lives at stake. You are their Aegis, their shield. I believe in you. Live in this world. Make friends. Take your time and learn magic. You cannot rush this. You will only be able to face our enemies once you have learned how to use the innate abilities within you. Find out who put an end to me, but do not seek revenge. Only shield, only protect.”
The wizard walked toward me and touched my forehead. My whole body was tingling like I had pins and needles. He looked at me with his impossibly blue eyes and smiled. He reached up and removed his monocle. My hand automatically reached out for it without my will doing anything to stop it.
As he placed it in the palm of my hand, he began to fade.
“Oh, and one more thing. Don’t trust the cat. She is not your enemy, but … she is also not your friend. She is nobody’s friend.” His last words were wistful as he faded away fully.
Suddenly I could move my arms and legs again. I gasped for air, even though I didn’t really need to breathe. I looked down at the palm of my hand. The monocle was still there. It felt like more than just a piece of glass and wire.
[Attention: High levels of mana and complex electronic activity detected in the device in your hand. ]
“Huh. No duh…” I whispered.
I looked over at Archive.
“Did you see all that, as well?” I asked.
“Yes, Aegis, I did.” the book responded.
“That’s good. I’m hungry. I’m going downstairs to get something to eat. Is it OK to leave you here or should I put you under the bed or something?” I ran my fingers through my hair and took a deep breath.
Archive’s eye widened.
“Heavens no, my boy! That will be quite unnecessary. I will be fine here.” The clasp closed again on the book, and the eye closed. It looked like a … well a really creepy book.
“Interface, is there any way to keep track of this room while we go downstairs. Like a ward or something?”
[Affirmative. I can detect if anyone comes near this location. ]
“Great! I’m starving. Let’s go get some food!”
[You know, Aegis, you don’t really require ….]
“Hush! The last thing I need right now is some lip from you. I’ve just had the great and powerful OZ give me some huge quests. I need some time to sit down and think about everything. And the best way for me to do that is to go downstairs and eat in the nice crowded lobby while folks chit chat about their lives. OK?” My voice was getting higher and higher pitched.
[Affirmative. Good strategy, Aegis.]
I pocketed the monocle and strode downstairs to the noisy tavern lobby. The door closed with a click behind me.
‘Interface, is it possible to change my appearance? Like other clothes?’ I asked as I made my way down the hallway towards the staircase that led to the tavern proper.
[Query response: Affirmative. All you need to do is visualize your clothing parameters, and I will attempt to emulate.]
“Nice! Try this.” I imagined myself before I … got sick. Weathered jeans, nice sneakers, and a grey t-shirt with a dragon on it from Dungeons and Dragons. Over that, was my trusty blue jean jacket that my ex-girlfriend said made me look like someone called James Dean.
Ugh, thoughts of my ex girlfriend, about how we got along so well before … the illness. But now as I looked back on that with seemingly older eyes I realized that she had just been using me for popularity. We got along fine, but looking back - and somehow memories in this body seemed to have an extra clarity to them - I could see the little looks she would give me when she thought I wasn’t looking, or how she would act differently toward me when we were around our other friends instead of when we were alone. I don’t know what hurt worse, the loss of my girlfriend or realizing she never really had feelings for me to begin with.
I glanced down at myself as I descended the staircase and smiled. I looked every bit the part of that James Dean - even with the hair.
‘Nice job, ’face.’
Somehow, I felt Interface … smile? That was new.
‘Are you getting emotions, Interface?’ I thought to it.
[Query Response: Bright’s updates are coming on line over time. It looks like one of these is a routine for simulated emotions. Shall I disable it?]
“No, no. I like it. Just don’t turn into Lore please.”
[**** Memory Query**** : Lore ……. Ah a fictional robot from one of your ‘tv’ programs. It steals emotions from its counterpart … Data … and goes insane. Yes. If I begin to act erratically, please ask Bright to disable my functioning. ]
I laughed, drawing a few glances my way as I entered the Tavern eating area.
It was growing dark outside and what appeared to be gaslights were glowing along each wall. The open windows from before had been pulled closed and I could sense heat coming from open panels near the floor. Central heating? My estimation of the technology of this world jumped up a bit.
The brown paneled walls were decorated with colorful paintings and tapestries, with lamps attached to the walls at regular intervals. The townsfolk were sitting at tables - eating and discussing all sorts of things. There were rough looking farmers at one table with leather hats and suspenders over dirty white shirts, while at another table some men in business suits were playing a game of cards - some with huge cigars in their mouths. Everything was busy, bustling, and overall friendly seeming. It reminded me of those big hotels my father would take us to when we went with him on a business trip. Travelers of all kinds all talking in low key at once, with smells of cigar smoke, food, and even sweat mingling in a strangely comforting blend.
I pulled up my collar and went to the bar with my food tokens. The barmaid was there and gave me a wink.
“Just find a table anywhere hon’ and I’ll bring you some food.” She said while spinning in place to avoid another barmaid passing by with a huge plate in her hand.
I nodded and wandered about the tavern. I picked up snippets of conversation that didn’t make sense to me. Talks of crops, and of shipping deals, of zeppelin tickets, and rumors of goblins in the north. I chucked.
‘The goblins are much closer than you think, lady’ I thought to myself.
[Query Response: Approximately 25 - 30 goblins have encamped roughly 10 miles from here. They are close to Castle Mir.]
My eyes opened wide.
‘How do you know that ’face?’ I asked.
[Query Response: I am ‘tapped in to’ as you say the Castle’s defenses. It has been alerted to their presence for some time. ]
“Oh” I said as I found an empty table near the back of the hall. The lights were fewer back here, and as such I hoped to not attract attention to myself.
‘Do you know how Bright is doing?’ I thought to Interface.
~Why don’t you ask me yourself?~ A chipper voice sounded in my ears.
I almost fell out of my chair. I started coughing to cover my startle. A few wary eyes turned toward me. I ducked my head down and pretended to be lost in thought.
HA! HA! HA! HA! You have to let a girl have SOME mystery Aegis! This is one of my upgrades to your system! I’m actually connected to that shiny blue gem in your chest. If Interface is your ‘head’ then I am your ‘heart’ HAH! ~
Silly! I don’t read any thoughts you have that aren’t directed at me. Is there something I should know, Aegis? Are you holding back on me? ~ I could hear the teasing suspicion in her voice. Oh man.
‘No, no. Nothing. Just wouldn’t want to bore you. Do you know about a book called Archive? It was delivered to me today by … someone’
The barmaid brought me a huge plate of food and a big mug full of very cold water. The food was basically beef chunks covered in some kind of gravy, some green beans looking things, and what could only be a baked potato. My stomach growled.
[Query: Do you appreciate the hunger simulation routine I deployed? It allows you to process food more readily ]
“Yeah. Sure.” I said absently.
~Hmm. Sure I know about Artie - that’s what I call that Archive. I have to deal with him all the time. He’s sooo boooring! I didn’t send any book to you though. That’s kinda odd. I should know about stuff like that…~
I was starting to get a headache with all the talking going on in my head that wasn’t me. I picked up the fork and tasted the beef. It was amazing.
‘Listen, ’face, Bright. Could you guys give me some space tonight? Like is there a privacy mode I could go into so I can be … alone with my thoughts? I’ve had a lot of stuff happen today and I’d love to just kinda … be alone for a while?’
Oh well geeze Aegis. I just get to talk to you and you’re asking for some “privacy”. Hmph! Well I guess I’ll go polish some statues or something and await your beck and call! ~
Ouch. I cringed.
No no, Aegis. I understand. I’m your ‘heart’ remember? Interface may know what you’re thinking, but I know what you’re feeling right now. And you’re feeling pretty lost and anxious. If having some alone time will make you happier, I’m all in for that. But just so you know I’m not like your dog Bud that you can just call and dismiss me like a little maid. ~
Ha ha ha! Enjoy your ‘alone time’ Aegis! ~ and she faded away.
I rubbed my face with my right ( and only! ) hand. I was going to need to be more careful how I talked to Bright. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to hurt her feelings for real.
As my thoughts returned to the table and my food, I was suddenly aware that someone else was sitting at the table with me. It was a woman dressed in loose tan breeches, a green tunic with a bright red cloak about her shoulders. She had shoulder length dark brown hair that had odd highlights … were they green? Her face had a very sly look with heavy lidded eyes and full lips. And her hand was upright on the table with her elbow down. A small flame was dancing just above her palm. The light reflected in her eyes in an odd way. Magic!
“Hi there young man. My name is Sylvania Dawn. I’m a purveyor of the magical arts, as well as a source for lots of - shall we say - hard to find items. I noticed you sitting here alone for the evening. Perhaps you might be interested in something … magical?” She smiled slyly.
I blinked.
“Are you using … magic?” I asked.
She gave me a deadpan look.
“Well, I don’t see any other mages within kicking distance of this table, so let’s just assume for the sake of our conversation that I am. Is that such a surprise to you? Where are you from? The outer lands?”
Her voice was deep and smooth, like the lounge singers in those black and white movies my dad would watch late at night, when he thought my mom and I were asleep. One of her eyebrows was raised in an incredulous expression.
“Uh, no, I uh, was just surprised. Is magic common around here?” I realized that I had learned next to nothing about the world I was now living in, other than that I had a powerful mage as my “creator” and that there were street thugs that beat up and hurt old men. I felt suddenly very lost and afraid. One wrong word to the wrong person and I could be broken bits buried in the dirt again.
Sylvania blinked a few times as she gave me an appraising look. Her hand closed and the flame winked out.
“You, know. It’s a common practice when someone introduces themselves, for you to do the same. You aren’t from around here are you?” She looked down at her fingernails and crossed her legs under the table.
“Ah. Heh heh. Yes, well I’m not used to people just coming right on up and sitting with me who I’ve never met. Um, my name is Aegis.” I held out my hand, awkwardly.
Sylvania tilted her head sideways slightly - almost like a dog who’s heard a high pitched whistle. I suddenly felt very nervous. What if she learns about who and WHAT I am? I regretted shutting out Bright and Interface. I considered bolting from the table right then.
She took my hand tentatively, and glanced over at my left shoulder - my armless left shoulder.
“So, ah, what happened to you? Hurt yourself in a farming accident?” She clutched at a necklace as she talked. It was a dark green gem encased with a gold cage-like setting. I realized her eyes were also a deep green. Her whole presence was striking. Dark hair, heavy lidded eyes, calm, self-assured presence. I glanced around to see if anyone else was surprised to see magic being done, but no one else seemed to notice us.
“Uh, no , I uh got in a fight with some Goblins, and uh barely made it away alive.”
I really needed to work on my story. I could see her expression changed to doubt at my paper thin lie.
“Listen, I’m sure you’re amazing and all that, and I’ll bet there’s someone else in this tavern who would really like to hear all about your services and all. I’m just a tradesman’s kid who’s come to find an apprenticeship with some local merchant. I just got here today and I’m pretty tired.” I yawned - unconvincingly.
“Listen, … Aegis … If that’s your real name. I know a bit about this city. It’s not a safe place for someone who’s not aware of its … dangers. There are different factions of organized crime, the Iron Church, the Thieves Guild, and others. Not to mention those Goblins you talked about. You could use someone who knows what’s what around here, to give you a bit of advice and perhaps guide you to what you are looking for? Hmm?” She made a small gesture with her hands and a tiny map appeared above the table – almost like a hologram it slowly rotated in place. I could see that the streets and buildings corresponded with my own internal map of the town.
She had a point. And yet… what if she WAS one of the dangers of this place. I had played far to many games and seen too many movies to let someone who was as shady looking as her pull the wool over my eyes.
“How do I know you aren’t one of those dangers?” I asked, a bit more boldly than I felt.
She seemed taken aback. Her hand pressed to her chest.
“Me? A danger?” She looked off in the distance for a moment - seemingly pondering my words. Then she smiled. I felt like Alice did before the Cheshire Cat.
“Perhaps I am -” she started, but then a very large, very angry looking brute of a man bumped the table aside and banged his fist on it’s wooden surface, making all the plates and cups bounce and clank.
“Sylvania! You worthless, pathetic, liar. You tricked me! Those weren’t magic corn seeds you shoved on me. Those were just rotten horse feed you must have put some kind of spell on to look like magic seeds. I’ve been looking all over this city for you, and now you decide to show your despicable face here.” He growled.
Sylvania looked stricken and stood up - shoving her chair backwards. A few other folks in the common area glanced over at us.
The rough looking man seemed to be one of the local farmers - if they made farmers that could pass as professional wrestlers back on my world. He was almost six feet tall with shoulders that must have been working the fields since he was a kid. I also stood up and backed up a bit.
Sylvania put up her hands in a placating gesture. I could see in her eyes she was quite terrified.
“Now listen, Jordan, I had no idea those seeds were not exactly as I had described. I had just procured them from a reputable -” Her explanation was cut off as he grabbed her arm by the wrist with a beefy hand and yanked it upward harshly.
“I don’t wanna hear nothing about your procurements! I want my money back, and I want it now!” With that he shoved her back hard and she stumbled backward into some other guests who screamed and backed away. The look on her face was completely different from the calm, self assured persona she had been projecting just a few moments ago.
Why was she not blasting this guy with magic? I thought. And why was she so terrified of him? But then she stood up shakily and balled her hands into fists.
She bit her lip and looked at the floor.
“I don’t have it.” She said quietly.
The barmaids were shouting for the police just outside the tavern. People were scrambling back away from tables. I just stood there like an idiot.
“What?” The huge man yelled.
“I had debts to pay. Obligations.” She seemed so crestfallen.
“Well, then missy, I’ll take it out of your hide!” And the man she had called Jordan backhanded her suddenly and she hit the floor again.
Emotions raged up within me. A thrill coursed through my body. I couldn’t let this woman get hurt by this hulking guy. But I also couldn’t let everyone know I was some kind of superhuman monster the first night of my stay at a tavern. I needed to THINK, before I acted.
Then, it came to me.
“I have it.” I said, assuming a swagger I didn’t actually feel.
The farmer turned to me, eye blazing with anger.
‘Interface! WAKE UP’ I screamed internally.
“What did you say, boy?” He snarled.
“I have the money. She was coming here to pay me.” I said, somewhat shakily.
Jordan the barbarian farmer looked at me. I’m only about 5 feet 9 inches tall, and this body was all about agility not bulk. I probably looked like some kind of puny kid to this … giant.
Sylvania was struggling to get to her feet. There was a harsh bruise on her cheek. And a bit of blood on the corner of her lip. I seethed. I wanted to rip this guy apart. But, really if she had cheated him like he had said she did, could I really blame him? But no, that did NOT justify him coming in like some Mad Max crazy person and hurting someone. Deep within me, that feeling arose again. That Guardian Spirit or something. I felt power welling within me. The orb on my chest was growing warm, and my senses seemed to be heightened.
Jordan laughed and pointed an accusing finger at me.
“You? You’re nothing but some boy. Why would she need to pay ….” Then his eyes widened.
“No! Nothing like that” I replied quickly.
“I’m .. a courier. She was paying me to deliver something.” I lied. What was I saying? This was not going to go well.
Sylvania looked at me with pleading eyes. I needed to do something, fast.
“Look dude. The lady says she doesn’t have your money. But I do. So ah.” I gulped. “Why don’t you come and get it.”
“What did you say to me?” Farmbarian said, his voice rising in anger?
“I said, come get it. If you want your money.” Internally, I was screaming ‘Interface! Boot up buddy!’
[System notice: I am here Aegis. I am still processing -]
‘Stop processing and start listening! I need to know the fastest way out of here. With the emphasis on fast!’
[Query Response: Behind you is a door to the kitchen. 10 feet beyond that is the doorway where the kitchen receives food from alley behind the restaurant. Does this match your query parameters?]
‘Yes! Thank you!’ I responded emphatically.
I saw the terrified look in Sylvania’s eyes – questioning, pleading. The brute Jordan looked at his right and and balled it into a formidable looking fist. He then leered at me, looking down on my lack of size. If I didn’t already know I could probably rip him in two, I would have been quite cowed. Instead, I lifted my chin and gave him a rude gesture. I guess the “bird” was a universal sign of “screw you” because he lost it completely and barreled toward me like a fleshy freight train.
I ducked his clumsy attempt to clothesline me, and something strange happened. Like a switch was clicked within my awareness, I suddenly could SEE things in a completely different way.
[System notice: Engaging battle mode phase 1]
Just when I thought I had this world figured out, and that this wasn’t a game. I’m suddenly SEEing myself from a third person perspective. I saw the huge man Jordan passing me by in slow motion, I saw Sylvania slowly raising her hand in reaction to Jordon’s attack on me. Everything was in this strange 3D perspective and slowed down like a cut scene in a game, or a bullet time slow mo in the movie The Matrix.
Battle mode? What is this? I asked as my body
automatically cleared the guy and turned toward the door. It was like I
was walking in thick jello.
[System Query: Battle Mode is a v2 enhancement. Your thought processess are temporarily sped up by 2x. Your perceptual inputs are using perspective hints to map a 3d field around you in order for you to make better tactical decisions. This mode will only last 30 seconds in real time and you will experience extreme fatigue afterward.]
Huh.
Let's get out of here, 'face!
My “bullet time” experience was quite interesting. I dashed toward the kitchen door, watching the slow dawning of recognition on Jordan’s face. I carefully pulled the door open, yet winced as my fingers gouged grooves in the door with my enhanced strength. Had it been 30 seconds yet? I guess if I was really thinking twice as fast, I only had a minute to move it.
I dodged cooks and servers in a slow motion dance that left me bemused. I accidentally clipped a bowl as I leaped over a kitchen counter to get to the outside door faster, and I watched as it shattered into a million pieces in slow motion.
What the heck WAS I?
Jordan was on my heels - shoving cooks and servers out of the way like a force of nature. His face twisted in anger and frustration.
I made the door and hit the slick, greasy alleyway road with a skid that had me crashing into a huge dumpster. I was NOT going to smell good after this.
I felt my power drain tremendously. It was like I was a balloon and someone just let the air out of me. Bluh.
‘Interface! Can I change appearance again?’
[System Query: Your camouflage system is passive and is not effected by your power drain - unless you reach 20% power.]
Immediately, I though about the old woman I had seen earlier with her kids. Plain, plump and tired looking. Like I felt.
I stepped woozily out of the garbage pile and began walking nervously down the alleyway, as if I had just seen a crazy boy running past me.
Jordan burst out of the restaurant back door and looked about wildly.
“Hey! You there! Wench!”
I glanced back at him, affronted. I clutched an illusory purse.
“Y-yes?”
“Did you see a piece of garbage one-armed boy come out of here just a moment ago? Moving like a jackrabbit on fire?” He yelled.
“Wh-why yes. He was quite scary! I feared for my life! He went -” I smirked inwardly ” - thataway.” I pointed toward the main street that connected to this back alley.
He ran past me, shoving me aside. “Outta the way, bitch!”
As I hit the grimy street I laughed inwardly.
[System Message: You have sustained mild abrasions to your outer matrix due to contact with the alley street. Your power level is at 48%. ]
‘Better than I expected, `face. Let’s get back to the hotel room -’
I stopped abruptly. There, standing outside the restaurant back door, was Sylvania. She was talking to a hooded figure. I couldn’t make out his face.
“It was him alright. The boy who nearly killed one of Theo’s goons. But they must have been on Blue Ice or something, because this boy wasn’t in a wheelchair, and he had two perfectly functioning legs.”
The hooded figure nodded. “Keep him under observation. See if you can gain his trust further. If we have a rogue wizard on our hands, the Mage Guild must know. And if needs be, we will put an end to him. There’s enough going on already. We don’t need another free agent who could spoil our plans.”
Sylvania clutched her elbows nervously. “Do you think- do you think perhaps he might be working for another Guild? Like the Thieves Guild? Or maybe the Tinkers?”
“It doesn’t matter. Regardless of his affiliation, he’s obviously enhanced, and dangerous. Keep an eye on him. We need more information before we act. You know what you need to do.”
The hooded man handed Sylvania a fairly large bag of what could only be … money? She nodded nervously and made her way back into the restaurant. Sounds of yelling and people talking rose as the door open and she went inside.
As I walked by I tried to sneak a glance at the hooded man’s face, but it was shrouded in darkness.
‘`face. Can you tell me anything about that man standing by the door?’
[System Query: Negative. I detect no heat signatures or air disturbances. There is an 80% chance that individual is using magic shielding.]
The hooded man glanced about - I could feel his eyes on me for a moment and I shuddered.
‘Could he see through my … illusion?’ I asked
[System Query: Negative. Illusion magic is at master level and is not dependent upon your intellectual acumen]
I laughed inwardly. ‘Foolproof huh?’
[System Response: Proof of the fool. Yes]
The man touched a green ring on his left hand and in a flash of light and a rather smelly “POP” he was gone.
A half an hour later, and three transformations, I was able to get past the swarm of police and make it back to my room. Archive was still on my bed, with it’s eye closed. Sleeping?
Without a sound, I carefully placed the book on the table by the bed and I fell under the covers, exhausted.
Before I drifted completely into … “sleep” I heard a distant voice. It was Bright.
~Good night sleepy head. Don’t forget your Date tomorrow!~
I groaned and rolled over, covering my head with the pillow.
I had a lot to think about. I lay in my bed with my hands behind my head as I stared at the ceiling. The morning sun was just beginning to breach my window, and the sounds of early risers were already flooding the streets below with the sounds I was rapidly growing accustomed to. Horses clopping, people murmuring, boxes hitting backs of wagons, whistles of policemen directing traffic - all sounds that should be filling me with a reassurance that all was well.
All was most definitely NOT well.
A clock tower in the distance gonged five times. It sounded like Big Ben to me. Five bells.
’face, is that clock giving accurate time? I asked.
[Chronological Query: The clock tower approximately 1 mile from here has a deviation of approximately 34 seconds early. However this is accounted for due to the fact that the sound must travel across the entire town and some accounting for the distance from the tower to the outer reaches of town has been made]
So, they are accounting for the speed of sound? I continued, curious despite my bad mood.
[Affirmative: AEGIS]
“So, Aegis. What are you going to do? You have a ‘date’ with your friend Clarissa in less than an hour.” Archive asked as it lay on the table next to my bed.
I picked up the book and stared into the creepy looking eye.
“I don’t know. Every time I think I have a tiny handle on things, something happens to turn my world upside down.”
“Ah you mean the mysterious woman from the lobby? What was her name? Sylviana? And the magical entity she was talking to? It sounds like you are attracting the attention of the Mages Guild. If you want my advice, Aegis, you should leave right now and head to the Castle. As the late Kendranen Mir said to you, you must begin learning magic if you want to find the answers you seek. You do not want to cross paths with the Mages in your current state.”
“My current state? You mean one armed?” The book blinked slowly.
“Come on Aegis. The memory engrams of this Mr. Patterson remembered you being sharper than that. You have zero knowledge of magic, you have no idea of what you are capable of, and very powerful people in more than one Guild would kill or worse to get access to you. Your life is literally …”
The book paused for effect.
“In danger.”
[Attention: Opinion – this interface must agree with the opinions of the magical artifact. ]
Wow Interface. It’s not often you offer your own opinion. I hear you both.
~I agree with the dumb book Artie and ’face!~ Bright popped up into my awareness.
In my mind’s eye she was wearing pants and a loose white t-shirt. Her normally wide shock of curly hair was pulled up into a bandanna. There were smudges of oil and dirt on her face. She looked like a car mechanic.
She gestured with a strange looking tool that appeared to be a cross between an over-sized screwdriver and a wrench.
~You should get out of there and head to the castle right away!~
She winked at me conspiratorially. Man she looked cute like that. I shook my head. What was I thinking. She wasn’t even a real person.
~I’m working on something special for you! Something Kenny asked me to get ready for you when we finally met. ~
“Oh? What is it?” My curiosity further stirred. Anything created by Bright would probably be amazing … and dangerous.
She replied in a singsong voice. ~I’m not gonna tell ya! You’ll have to come here and see for yourself, Shieldy!~
Shield. I was the Shield. My awareness throbbed for a moment. And my resolve solidified. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.
“I’ll be there soon. I’m just going to talk to Clarissa. Try to get some answers. And then I’ll head to the Castle. I promise.”
Bright let out her bottom lip in a huge pout. Oh man.
~We’re just thinking about your safety, ’gis. Be careful. I don’t trust ’rissa. You know she’s in the Thieves Guild right?~
Her eyebrow rose as she asked me the question. She was so expressive, so mercurial.
“I’ll be safe, everyone. I promise. I have a plan.” I answered and stood up.
“Where can I put you safely, Archive? I may need a hand free …”
[Query Response: you may use your Inventory. It is a magical construct which allows you to store items in a small pocket dimension. ]
I hit the palm of my hand to my forehead. An inventory? Come on world! What’s next, are you going to tell me about experience points and skill levels?
I sighed. I was NEVER going to figure this place out.
“Okayyy. How do I use it?” I asked Interface.
[Query Response: simply say “Invoke Inventory. Add.” as you look at the magical construct.]
I looked at the odd book. Here goes…
“Invoke Inventory. Add.”
I felt an odd pulling within me. I was learning this was how it felt when my Mana was being used. The book shrank rapidly till it disappeared with an odd “pop” sound. Must be the air collapsing on the space where the book had been.
I panicked for a brief moment.
“Um, how do I get him back?” I asked Interface nervously.
[Query Response: simply say “Invoke Inventory. View” and choose which item you wish to draw out. Be cautious, however. If you draw out an item larger than the space you are currently within, you may experience damage as the item is restored to full size.]
“Hmm. Explosive inventory … perfect.” I was wasting time. I needed to get downstairs and put my plan into action. But this was important.
“Invoke Inventory. View” I said dramatically.
Suddenly - like some sort of technicolor hologram - a window appeared before me. I could see a grid of sorts, with all sorts of interesting looking items. Where had THESE come from? There were … weapons in here? And books. LOTS of books. I unconsciously swiped my hand in the air, like I had seen in one of those movies where the character was moving through some hologram of items. It worked! The window stayed in place, but the items slide to the left. There were all kinds of amazing things in here. But something was odd. Every item, except for Archive, which had a friendly little bit of text above it reading “ARCHIVE”, was covered with a padlock symbol.
“Why is everything … locked?” I asked.
** I can answer that, my boy. Because right now it’s too dangerous for you to use. Kendranen Mir set up things so that you can learn about yourself safely, and not … destroy reality or kill everyone in this town if you made a mistake. ** Archive answered.
His voice sounded like it was muffled slightly, like it was in a box or under my bed. There was a hint of sarcasm that felt like Mr. Patterson was coming through a bit TOO much.
“Oh. Well I wouldn’t want to … destroy reality or something.” I shuddered.
“So how do I do … wait. Invoke Inventory. Dismiss!” The colorful hologram shrank rapidly and disappeared. I smiled inwardly, proud of my cleverness.
The mental image of Bright zoomed in and bopped me on the head with her mental wrench-thing. I flinched but there was no real contact. Good thing!
~Aegis, silly! It doesn’t really matter what you say. It’s about how you focus your thoughts. You could have said “Goblin Bottoms!” and it would still work for you.~ she smirked.
“Oh,” I said, deflated.
I was beginning to realize that this world, real or not, worked on a set of rules. And if I did not begin to get a handle on learning these rules, I probably was going to die. Or get someone ELSE killed. I took another breath.
“OK everyone. Enough waiting around. Let’s start getting some answers. First off, Interface, can you make me look like that villager woman from last night …”
I stood by a cabbage cart, making a show of haggling over the price of a few cabbages. My dress was threadbare, and my long hair kept getting in my face. Yes, I was finally role playing - as a poor washwoman looking to buy some cabbages for dinner.
[Query: motivation to mask your appearance when the person seeking you out will not recognize you?]
“’face, I swear you’re getting a personality all your own. You used to never ask questions of your own…” I thought to Interface.
[Response: I am onboarding more upgrades from your Mana Source, Bright. Is this “ok” with you AEGIS?]
“Sure ’face! I just hope you don’t take over and send us on a rampage across the countryside” I thought with a smile. The cabbage vendor was closing on a price. I needed to keep busy before Clarissa arrived.
My “plan” was simple. I was going to trail Clarissa as she left her home and arrived at our “date”. If there was anything shady going on, I was going to find out BEFORE I stumbled into another trap or deception.
Our transaction complete, I began scanning the busy street for signs of Clarissa. There was only a few more minutes before she was due to arrive at the Inn. My stomach was full of butterflies and I had a sour taste in my mouth. This body sometimes seemed as real and fleshy as my former one. This Kendranen Mir was a genius, apparently.
[Alert: a person matching Clarissa’s appearance has entered my sensory range - approximately 5 meters behind you, Aegis.]
‘Thank’s ’face. Any idea where she is going?’ I asked inwardly. Outwardly I was placing a bunch of cabbages in my basket.
[Query response: negative. However, her body signs indicate extreme nervousness and anxiety.]
I glanced across the street and spotted her. She was making her way hurriedly down the sidewalk. She was again dressed in her breeches and jacket. A look of concern marred her pretty features. I felt kinda bad for spying on her like this. But, I was learning more about this world, and appearances can be deceiving.
[Alert: Aegis. Something is not right. Two large men are approaching Clarissa. They have concealed weapons ]
My senses pulsed. Danger, here? How was I to -
Suddenly, Clarissa disappeared. The men were gone as well. There was an alleyway just across the street. I turned away from the vegetable seller.
[Alert: The two men have moved along with Clarissa into the alley. What do you want to do?]
‘Let’s go’ I thought, and moved quickly across the street and ducked into the alley.
For such a busy market street, this alley was relatively empty. It was narrow, with a small groove down the center for water and … other things … to flow away from the market. There was trash everywhere, and boxes piled up along the greasy brick walls. Steam poured out of a vent here and there. It smelled terrible.
And there! Halfway down the alley was Clarissa and the two men. Quickly, I discarded my disguise and ducked down behind some piles of trash and boxes. Whew!
‘Face, can I listen to what they are saying?’ I thought to Interface.
[Query Response: I can enhance your audio receptors.There may be other noises however]
‘Ok, do that, see if you can focus on what they are saying’ I responded.
“- Boss doesn’t like this new boyfriend of yours, sweety.” One of the men had Clarissa pinned against a wall, his left arm palming the wall above her head, the other in a fist below her chin. The other man stood slightly away - arms crossed and eyes open for anyone who might be looking.
Clarissa seemed cowed, but defiant. “I told you, he’s not my boyfriend. He’s some kid who wandered out of the forest - ranting about goblins and looking for a handout. My dad took him in out of pity.”
I cringed. I knew she didn’t mean this, but who were these guys? Why wasn’t she running away? What was going on?
“Theo’s boys almost got killed by this … kid. He’s no normal kid. He’s got some kind of … powers. And the Boss wants to know what they are. We can’t have stray magic or tech messing up the Thieves Guild’s plans. Every Guild in the City’s going to have eyes on him.”
Clarissa swallowed, hard. “Listen, I” She choughed. “I’m going to meet him in a few minutes. I’ll see what information I can get out of him. I’ll tell the Boss. Maybe we can use him.” She said nervously
The big man guffawed.
“Use him? Girl, we are thieves. If he’s got anything valuable - or if HE’s valuable - we’re gonna take him and sell him to the highest bidder. Got it?” The man grabbed Clarissa’s chin - hard. She whimpered.
I almost burst out of my hiding place right there. My teeth were grinding in anger.
She nodded, eyes wide.
“Lest you forget, little girly. You’re a Thief as well. This is YOUR guild. And YOU work for US. We wouldn’t want your daddy to find out what you’ve been up to, eh? Or worse yet, maybe have a little accident, eh? Ha ha ha!” The big man looked over to his partner.
“What do you think, Gary? Should we go down to their shop and .. buy some rope? Ha! Ha! Ha!”
“No! Don’t! I’ll do what you ask.” Clarissa whimpered.
The big man turned back to her and ran his rough fingers through her hair. She closed her eyes and bit her lip.
“You better, girlie. Bring this … kid to the Boss. Or else your days in the guild will be -” He looked down at the knife at his belt - “Cut short.”
He pushed away and patted his partner on the back. They made their way down the alley and disappeared. I made it a point to memorize their faces as they passed me. My camouflage kept me from showing up behind the pile of garbage.
I looked back down the alley toward Clarissa. She was standing there, arms stiff and straight downward. She was shaking in anger. Tears ran down her face.
‘What the heck is going on, ’face?’ I thought inwardly.
[Query Response: I am unable to ascertain given the limited information - but it appears those men are blackmailing your friend into betraying you to the Thieves Guild. I would suggest we abandon your plan to meet with Clarissa and head back to the castle right away.]
I frowned.
‘Oh no, ’face. We’re going to meet Clarissa. And we’re going to get some answers.’
By that time, she had wiped the tears from her face and slowly made her way out of the alley herself.
My life was about to get more complicated, I could tell right now.
I made my way back through the market crowd, my mind racing with what I’d just witnessed. Clarissa was being blackmailed by the Thieves Guild - forced to betray me or face consequences for both her and her father. The anger burning in my chest was almost overwhelming, but I forced myself to think strategically.
[Alert: Your heart rate and stress indicators are elevated. Recommend activating Battle Mode for enhanced tactical awareness.]
‘Not yet, ’face. I need to think this through first,’ I responded mentally while weaving between market stalls. The smell of roasted meat and fresh bread did nothing to calm my churning stomach.
The Merry Maid inn stood at the corner of Market Street and Cobbler’s Lane, its weathered wooden sign creaking in the afternoon breeze. Through the diamond-paned windows, I could see the warm glow of oil lamps and the shadows of patrons moving about inside. This was supposed to be a simple meeting - maybe even a date. Instead, it was walking into a trap.
But I was going anyway.
[Query: Logic suggests avoiding this encounter entirely. Why are you proceeding with a plan that puts you at significant risk?]
I paused at the inn’s entrance, my hand on the brass door handle. ‘Because she’s being forced into this, ’face. She doesn’t want to betray me - she’s scared. And if I don’t show up, those thugs might hurt her or her father.’
[Response: Your protective instincts are… admirable. However, I must point out that you are also walking into unknown danger.]
‘I know. But we’re not the same scared kid who stumbled out of the forest anymore, are we?’
[Analysis: Correct. Your capabilities have increased significantly. Battle Mode integration is at 78% efficiency. Mana reserves are at full capacity. Inventory system contains multiple useful items.]
I took a deep breath and pushed open the door.
The Merry Maid was exactly what you’d expect from a middle-class inn - wooden tables scarred by years of use, a stone fireplace crackling with warmth, and the constant murmur of conversation mixed with the clink of pewter mugs. The air was thick with the smell of ale, pipe smoke, and mutton stew.
I spotted Clarissa immediately. She sat at a corner table, her back to the wall, nervously fidgeting with a pewter mug. She’d changed from her breeches into a simple blue dress that brought out her eyes, but I could see the tension in her shoulders from across the room.
[Alert: Scanning room for potential threats. Multiple individuals present, but no immediate weapons detected.]
As I approached her table, Clarissa looked up. For just a moment, her face lit up with genuine happiness at seeing me. Then I watched as that expression was quickly replaced by something else - guilt, fear, determination.
“Aegis,” she said softly as I sat down across from her. “You came.”
“Of course I came,” I replied, studying her face. “Though I have to say, you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
She laughed, but it sounded forced. “Just… nervous, I suppose. It’s not every day a girl has a proper suitor call on her.”
[Alert: Her stress indicators are extremely high. Elevated heart rate, perspiration, micro-expressions indicating deception.]
I leaned forward slightly. “Clarissa, is everything alright? You seem…”
“I’m fine!” she said quickly, then caught herself. “I mean, yes, everything’s fine. Would you like something to drink? The ale here is quite good.”
Before I could answer, she was already signaling to the barmaid. I watched her carefully, noting how her eyes kept darting toward the inn’s entrance and how her hands trembled slightly as she lifted her mug.
“Clarissa,” I said gently, “I know.”
She froze, the mug halfway to her lips. “Know what?”
“About the men in the alley. About the Thieves Guild. About what they’re making you do.”
The color drained from her face. The mug slipped from her fingers and clattered onto the table, spilling ale across the scarred wood.
“Aegis, I…” she started, then stopped. Her eyes filled with tears. “How did you…?”
“I followed you. I saw the whole thing.” I reached across the table and took her hand. “They’re blackmailing you, aren’t they?”
She nodded miserably. “They said they’d hurt my father if I didn’t… if I didn’t bring you to them. They know about what happened with Theo’s men. They think you have some kind of power they can use or sell.”
[Alert: Multiple individuals entering the inn. Weapons detected. Recommend immediate defensive action.]
My head snapped toward the entrance. Three men had just walked in - the two from the alley plus a third I didn’t recognize. They were trying to look casual, but I could see the bulges of concealed weapons under their coats.
“They’re here,” I whispered to Clarissa.
Her eyes went wide with panic. “Oh no, oh no, oh no. They said they’d give me more time. They said…”
“Clarissa, listen to me.” I squeezed her hand. “When I say run, you head for the back door. Don’t look back, don’t hesitate. Get to your father and get somewhere safe.”
“But what about you?”
I smiled grimly. “I’m going to have a conversation with your friends about their manners.”
[Query: Activating Battle Mode?]
‘Do it, ’face.’
[Battle Mode: ACTIVE. Enhanced reflexes online. Threat assessment: MODERATE. Tactical analysis: Multiple hostiles in civilian environment. Collateral damage potential: HIGH.]
The world sharpened around me. Every sound became clearer, every movement more defined. I could hear the three men’s heartbeats, smell the oil on their weapons, see the micro-expressions that revealed their intentions.
The largest of the three - the one who’d threatened Clarissa in the alley - approached our table with a false smile plastered on his face.
“Well, well,” he said loudly enough for nearby tables to hear. “If it isn’t young Clarissa and her mysterious friend. Mind if we join you?”
Without waiting for an answer, he pulled out a chair and sat down. His two companions flanked the table, blocking potential escape routes.
“I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced,” the big man continued. “Name’s Marcus. These are my associates, Gary and Finn. We’re… business partners of Clarissa’s family.”
[Analysis: Subject ‘Marcus’ is lying. Stress indicators suggest hostile intent. Weapons: concealed blade at belt, possible throwing knives in coat.]
“Business partners,” I repeated flatly. “What kind of business?”
Marcus’s smile widened, showing yellowed teeth. “Oh, this and that. Import, export. Sometimes we help people find things they’ve lost. Sometimes we help them lose things they don’t need anymore.”
Clarissa was trembling beside me. I could feel her fear like a physical presence.
“That’s fascinating,” I said. “And what brings you to speak with us today?”
“Well, you see, we’ve heard some interesting stories about you, young man. Stories about a boy who can fight off multiple armed men without breaking a sweat. Stories about… unusual abilities.”
The inn had grown quieter around us. Other patrons were starting to notice the tension at our table.
“People tell all sorts of stories,” I replied carefully. “Most of them aren’t true.”
“Oh, but we think these ones might be.” Marcus leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. “See, we represent certain… interests in the city. Interests that are very curious about people with special talents.”
[Alert: Subject ‘Gary’ is reaching for a concealed weapon. Subject ‘Finn’ is positioning to block the rear exit.]
“And if I’m not interested in meeting these… interests of yours?”
Marcus’s false smile finally dropped. “Then I’m afraid you don’t have a choice in the matter, boy. You see, little Clarissa here owes us a debt. And you’re going to help her pay it off.”
That was enough.
“Clarissa,” I said quietly, “run. Now.”
She didn’t hesitate. Years of living on the streets had taught her to recognize when a situation was about to turn violent. She bolted from her chair and sprinted toward the back of the inn.
“Stop her!” Marcus shouted, but I was already moving.
[Battle Mode: ENHANCED. Threat level: ELEVATED. Engaging multiple hostiles.]
I grabbed the edge of our heavy wooden table and flipped it toward Marcus. The big man threw himself backward, but the table caught him in the chest and sent him sprawling. Pewter mugs and wooden bowls scattered across the floor with a tremendous crash.
Gary had his knife out now - a wicked curved blade that gleamed in the lamplight. He lunged at me with surprising speed, but Battle Mode made his movements seem almost sluggish. I sidestepped his thrust and grabbed his wrist, twisting until I heard bones crack. The knife clattered to the floor.
Finn was trying to circle around behind me, but the inn’s layout worked against him. Tables and chairs created obstacles that I could use to my advantage. I picked up a wooden chair and hurled it at him. He ducked, but it bought me the seconds I needed to close the distance.
[Alert: Subject ‘Marcus’ is recovering. Multiple weapons detected on his person.]
I spun around just as Marcus was getting back to his feet, a throwing knife already in his hand. The blade flew toward my chest with deadly accuracy.
Time seemed to slow. I could see the knife spinning through the air, could calculate its trajectory, could feel my body responding with inhuman precision. I twisted to the side, and the blade passed so close to my ribs that it sliced through my shirt.
“What the hell are you?” Marcus snarled, drawing a longer blade from his belt.
“Someone you shouldn’t have threatened,” I replied.
The inn had erupted into chaos around us. Patrons were screaming and diving for cover, chairs were overturned, and the barmaid was shouting for the city watch. But my focus was entirely on the three men who had dared to threaten Clarissa.
Marcus came at me with his sword, a brutal overhead swing meant to split my skull. I caught his wrist with my hand and used his own momentum to throw him over my shoulder. He crashed into the stone fireplace with a sickening thud.
Finn had recovered from the chair and was advancing with a pair of brass knuckles. I let him get close, then drove my knee into his solar plexus. As he doubled over, gasping for air, I brought my elbow down on the back of his neck. He collapsed like a sack of grain.
Gary was still clutching his broken wrist, but he’d managed to draw a second knife with his good hand. He was backing toward the door, his eyes wide with fear.
“This isn’t over, boy,” he panted. “The Guild knows about you now. They’ll send more. They’ll keep sending more until they get what they want.”
“Then tell your Guild this,” I said, advancing on him. “If they come after Clarissa or her father again, if they so much as look at them wrong, I’ll tear their organization apart piece by piece.”
[Alert: City watch approaching. Multiple armed individuals converging on this location.]
Gary stumbled backward through the inn’s entrance and disappeared into the crowd outside. Marcus was groaning by the fireplace, clutching his ribs. Finn wasn’t moving at all.
I needed to get out of here before the watch arrived. But first…
I knelt down beside Marcus and grabbed him by the front of his shirt, hauling him up to face me.
“Where is it?” I demanded.
“Where’s what?” he wheezed.
“My arm. The one your Guild took from me. Where are they keeping it?”
His eyes widened in recognition. “You’re… you’re the one from the forest. The one Theo’s boys…”
“Where. Is. My. Arm?”
[Alert: City watch is thirty seconds away. Recommend immediate evacuation.]
Marcus laughed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. “You want it back? Come and get it. The Guild keeps all their… trophies… in the vault beneath the old Merchant’s Exchange. But you’ll never make it past the guards. You’ll never…”
I dropped him and headed for the back door. I’d gotten what I came for - information about my missing limb and confirmation that Clarissa was safe. The rest could wait.
The alley behind the Merry Maid was narrow and dark, filled with the usual urban detritus. I could hear the city watch pounding on the inn’s front door as I made my escape through the maze of back streets.
[Battle Mode: DEACTIVATING. Threat level: MINIMAL. Status report: Minor lacerations, elevated heart rate, adrenaline levels returning to normal.]
As the enhanced awareness faded, I felt the familiar exhaustion that came after using Battle Mode. But there was something else too - a sense of satisfaction. For the first time since arriving in this world, I’d been the one setting the terms of an encounter. I’d protected someone I cared about and gotten valuable information in the process.
But Marcus’s words echoed in my mind. The Guild would send more. They knew about me now, knew I was more than just some lost boy from the forest. And somewhere in their vault, they had a piece of me - literally.
[Query: What is our next course of action?]
I paused in the shadows of an alley, catching my breath and thinking. ‘We need to find Clarissa and make sure she’s safe. Then we need to get back to the castle and tell Bright and the others what we’ve learned.’
[Analysis: Agreed. However, I should point out that this encounter has likely escalated the situation significantly. The Thieves Guild now views you as a direct threat.]
‘Good,’ I thought grimly. ‘Because that’s exactly what I intend to be.’
I made my way through the winding streets toward Clarissa’s neighborhood, keeping to the shadows and avoiding the main thoroughfares. The city watch would be looking for me, and I had no desire to explain to them why I’d just demolished half an inn.
As I walked, I found myself thinking about what had just happened. The fight itself had been almost easy - Battle Mode had made me faster and stronger than any normal human. But it was more than that. For the first time since waking up in this world, I’d felt truly in control of a situation.
I wasn’t just reacting anymore. I was acting.
The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying.
[Alert: Familiar life signs detected. Clarissa is approximately fifty meters ahead, moving toward her home.]
I quickened my pace and caught up with her just as she was turning onto her street. She was still running, her dress hiked up to keep from tripping, tears streaming down her face.
“Clarissa!” I called softly.
She spun around, and when she saw me, she threw herself into my embrace.
“Aegis! Oh god, I thought they’d killed you! I heard the fighting and the screaming and…” She was sobbing against my chest, her whole body shaking.
“I’m fine,” I said, holding her close. “They’re not going to hurt you anymore. I promise.”
She pulled back to look at me, her eyes wide. “What did you do to them?”
“I had a conversation about manners. They won’t be bothering you again.”
“But the Guild… they’ll send others. They’ll…”
“Let me worry about the Guild,” I said firmly. “Right now, I need you to pack whatever you and your father need for a few days. You can’t stay here - it’s not safe.”
“Where will we go?”
I smiled. “I know a place. A castle, actually. With some very powerful friends who won’t let anything happen to you.”
She stared at me for a long moment. “You’re not just some lost boy from the forest, are you?”
“No,” I admitted. “I’m not. But I’m still the same person who helped you with those groceries. I’m still the same person who thinks you’re amazing. And I’m still the same person who will do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
She nodded slowly. “I’ll get father. We’ll be ready in ten minutes.”
As she hurried toward her house, I found myself thinking about what came next. The Thieves Guild had my arm - the final piece I needed to be complete. They’d threatened someone I cared about. They’d tried to use her against me.
They’d made this personal.
[Query: You are planning to assault the Thieves Guild directly, aren’t you?]
‘Eventually, yes. But not alone, and not unprepared. First, we get Clarissa and her father to safety. Then we plan.’
[Analysis: This course of action will likely result in significant conflict.]
I looked up at the darkening sky, where the first stars were beginning to appear. Somewhere out there, in a vault beneath the old Merchant’s Exchange, was the piece of me that had been stolen. And somewhere in this city was an organization that thought they could threaten innocent people to get what they wanted.
They were about to learn how wrong they were.
‘I know, ’face. But some conflicts are worth having.’
[Response: Understood. I will begin tactical analysis of potential assault scenarios.]
I smiled grimly. Interface was definitely developing a personality of its own - and apparently, it was just as protective as I was becoming.
Ten minutes later, Clarissa emerged from her house with her father and two small bags. The older man looked confused and frightened, but he trusted his daughter enough to follow her lead.
Her father studied me with sharp eyes, recognition dawning on his weathered face. “You’re the one who’s brought trouble to our door.”
“I’m the one who’s going to make sure that trouble doesn’t hurt your family,” I replied. “I’m sorry you’ve been dragged into this, sir. But I promise you’ll be safe where we’re going.”
He nodded slowly. “Clarissa says you’re… special. That you can protect us.”
“I can. And I will.”
As we made our way through the darkened streets toward the city gates, I found myself thinking about how much had changed since I’d first arrived in this world. I’d been broken then - literally and figuratively. Dying, desperate, with nothing but the clothes on my back and a mysterious voice in my head.
Now I had friends, allies, purpose. I had power and the will to use it. And I had something worth protecting.
The Thieves Guild had made a mistake when they’d threatened Clarissa. They’d given me a reason to stop hiding, stop running, stop simply reacting to the world around me.
They’d given me a reason to fight back.
[Alert: We are approaching the city gates. No signs of pursuit detected.]
‘Good. Once we’re clear of the city, we can make better time to the castle.’
[Query: And after we reach the castle?]
I looked back at the city lights fading behind us, thinking about Marcus’s words. The Guild vault beneath the Merchant’s Exchange. My missing arm. The organization that thought they could use fear and violence to control people.
‘After we reach the castle, we start planning. Because the Thieves Guild is about to discover that some people don’t stay victims forever.’
The road ahead was dark, but I could see the distant glow of Castle Mir on the horizon. Home. Safety. And the beginning of the end for those who’d dared to threaten the people I cared about.
For the first time since arriving in this world, I wasn’t running away from something.
I was running toward it.
The city gates loomed ahead of us in the darkness, their iron-bound oak doors standing open to allow late-night travelers passage. Torches flickered in their sconces, casting dancing shadows across the cobblestones. Guards in leather armor stood at their posts, but they seemed more interested in staying warm than scrutinizing every person who passed through.
[Alert: Multiple pursuit groups detected approximately 200 meters behind our position. Recommend increased pace.]
‘How many, ’face?’ I thought while keeping my expression neutral. Clarissa and her father walked beside me, trying to look like ordinary travelers heading home after a day in the city.
[Analysis: Three separate groups. Estimated 12-15 individuals total. Mixed Thieves Guild and what appear to be Mage Guild operatives based on equipment signatures.]
That was troubling. The Mage Guild getting involved meant this was escalating beyond a simple criminal matter. They must have detected the magical energy I’d used during the fight at the inn.
“Is everything alright?” Clarissa whispered, noticing my tension.
“Just keep walking,” I murmured back. “We’re almost through.”
Her father, a thin man named Gier with calloused hands and worried eyes, glanced nervously over his shoulder. “Are we being followed?”
“Possibly,” I admitted. “But once we’re outside the city walls, we’ll have more options.”
We passed through the gates without incident, the guards barely glancing at us. But as soon as we were beyond the walls, I could hear the commotion behind us - shouted orders, the clatter of weapons, the sound of many feet moving quickly.
[Alert: Pursuit groups have reached the gates. They are questioning the guards about our passage.]
“Now we run,” I said.
The road leading away from the city was well-maintained but poorly lit. Moonlight provided some visibility, but the shadows between the scattered trees could hide any number of dangers. We moved as quickly as we could while staying quiet, but I knew it wouldn’t be long before our pursuers caught up.
“I can’t… I can’t keep this pace,” Gier gasped after we’d been jogging for several minutes.
I looked back toward the city. Torchlight was visible in the distance, moving in our direction.
“’Face, how far to the Wild Woods?”
[Query Response: Approximately 2.3 kilometers at current heading. However, I should point out that the Wild Woods present their own dangers, particularly at night.]
“What kind of dangers?”
[Analysis: Goblin activity has increased significantly since your last encounter. Additionally, there are reports of larger predators and… other creatures that hunt in darkness.]
Wonderful. Caught between pursuing Guild members and whatever nightmares lurked in the forest.
“There’s a cart path about half a kilometer ahead,” Gier said, breathing heavily. “It leads to an old woodcutter’s cabin. We could hide there.”
“No,” I replied. “They’ll search every building along the road. We need to get to the forest.”
Clarissa looked at me with wide eyes. “The Wild Woods? At night? Aegis, that’s suicide.”
“Not for me,” I said grimly. “And I won’t let anything happen to either of you.”
[Alert: Pursuit groups have split up. One group continues along the main road. Two groups are moving to flank us through the fields.]
The tactical situation was deteriorating rapidly. In open ground, we were vulnerable to ranged attacks and had no cover. But the forest ahead promised concealment - and other problems.
“Listen to me,” I said, stopping and turning to face both of them. “I need you to trust me completely. What you’re about to see… it’s going to seem impossible. But I promise you, I will keep you safe.”
Gier looked confused, but Clarissa nodded. She’d already seen hints of what I could do.
“’Face, activate Battle Mode. And see if you can access anything useful from the Inventory.”
[Battle Mode: ACTIVE. Enhanced senses online. Inventory scan: Multiple items available. Recommend the Cloak of Shadows for concealment and the Boots of Silent Steps for the civilians.]
“Perfect.”
I reached into what appeared to be empty air and withdrew two items that materialized in my hands - a dark cloak that seemed to absorb light and a pair of soft leather boots.
Gier’s jaw dropped. “What in the name of…”
“Magic,” I said simply. “Clarissa, put on the cloak. Gier, change into these boots. They’ll help you move quietly.”
“But how did you…” Gier started.
“Explanations later. Right now, we need to move.”
The cloak settled around Clarissa’s shoulders and she immediately became harder to see, as if shadows clung to her form. Gier’s new boots made no sound as he took tentative steps.
[Alert: First pursuit group is 400 meters and closing. They have dogs.]
Dogs. That complicated things significantly.
“The forest, now,” I ordered.
We ran toward the tree line, and I could hear the baying of hounds behind us. The Wild Woods rose before us like a wall of darkness, ancient oaks and twisted pines creating an impenetrable canopy that blocked out most of the moonlight.
As soon as we crossed into the forest, the temperature seemed to drop ten degrees. The air was thick with the smell of moss, rotting leaves, and something else - something wild and dangerous.
[Alert: Multiple life forms detected in the immediate area. Some signatures are… unusual.]
“What do you mean, unusual?”
[Analysis: Larger than typical forest creatures. Elevated aggression indicators. Possible magical enhancement or mutation.]
“Stay close to me,” I whispered to Clarissa and Gier. “Don’t make any sudden movements, and whatever you do, don’t run unless I tell you to.”
We moved deeper into the forest, following what might have been a game trail. Behind us, I could hear our pursuers reaching the forest edge. Torchlight flickered between the trees as they began their search.
“Split up!” someone shouted. “Cover more ground! The boy can’t have gone far!”
But the forest was working in our favor. The thick canopy made their torches less effective, and the uneven ground slowed their progress. More importantly, they were making enough noise to wake the dead - which meant every predator in the area knew exactly where they were.
[Alert: Large creature approaching from the northeast. Estimated size: significantly larger than a normal wolf.]
I held up a hand, signaling for Clarissa and Gier to stop. Through the trees, I could see a pair of glowing eyes reflecting torchlight. They were too high off the ground to belong to any normal forest animal.
The creature stepped into a patch of moonlight, and I had to suppress a gasp. It was definitely wolf-like, but easily twice the size of any wolf I’d ever seen. Its fur was midnight black, and when it opened its mouth, I could see rows of teeth that gleamed like polished steel.
[Analysis: Dire wolf. Magical creature. Extremely dangerous. However, it appears to be focused on the pursuit groups rather than us.]
The dire wolf let out a howl that made my bones vibrate. It was answered by two more howls from different directions.
“Oh god,” Gier whispered. “We’re going to die out here.”
“No, we’re not,” I said firmly. “Those things are hunting the people with torches, not us. We’re quieter, and we smell different.”
One of the pursuit groups had gotten too close to the dire wolf. I heard a man scream, followed by the sound of weapons being drawn and shouted orders. The forest erupted into chaos as the Guild members found themselves fighting for their lives against creatures they weren’t prepared for.
“This way,” I whispered, leading Clarissa and Gier away from the sounds of battle.
We moved through the forest like ghosts, the magical items helping to conceal our passage. But I knew we weren’t safe yet. The dire wolves were just one of the dangers lurking in these woods.
[Alert: Goblin activity detected 150 meters to the west. Large group, approximately 20-25 individuals.]
“More goblins?” I muttered.
[Analysis: These appear to be different from your previous encounters. Larger, better organized, and carrying superior weapons.]
As if to confirm Interface’s assessment, I caught a glimpse of movement through the trees. These goblins were indeed larger than the ones I’d fought before - nearly human-sized, with crude but effective armor and weapons that looked like they’d been stolen from human soldiers.
“Hobgoblins,” Gier breathed, apparently recognizing them. “They’ve been raiding the outer settlements. The city guard can’t seem to stop them.”
[Alert: The hobgoblin group is moving toward the sounds of combat. They appear to be investigating the disturbance.]
This was actually working in our favor. The Guild pursuit groups were dealing with dire wolves, and now hobgoblins were moving to investigate. With any luck, our pursuers would be too busy fighting for their lives to continue tracking us.
We continued deeper into the forest, following a winding path that seemed to lead generally in the direction of Castle Mir. The sounds of battle faded behind us, replaced by the normal nighttime sounds of the forest - owls hooting, small creatures rustling through the underbrush, and the distant howl of wolves.
“How much farther?” Clarissa asked softly.
[Query Response: Approximately 8 kilometers to Castle Mir at current heading. However, the path through the Wild Woods is not direct.]
“Several hours,” I replied. “But we should be safe once we reach the castle’s outer defenses.”
“I still can’t believe we’re going back there,” Gier said quietly. “After everything that happened when we found you…”
I smiled grimly. “At least this time we know what to expect. And Bright will be waiting for us.”
We walked in relative silence for the next hour, making good time on the forest paths. The magical boots kept Gier’s footsteps silent, and the cloak made Clarissa nearly invisible in the shadows. My enhanced senses kept us away from the various dangers that lurked in the darkness.
But as we crested a small hill, I realized we had a new problem.
[Alert: Large structure ahead. Goblin construction. Heavily fortified.]
Through the trees, I could see what looked like a crude fortress built from logs and stone. Torches burned along its walls, and I could see goblin sentries moving back and forth.
“That wasn’t here before,” I muttered.
[Analysis: Recent construction. Appears to be a forward operating base for goblin raids on human settlements.]
“We’ll have to go around,” Gier said.
“No,” I replied, studying the fortress. “That would add hours to our journey, and we don’t know what other surprises are waiting out there.”
“You’re not seriously thinking of going through a goblin fortress,” Clarissa said.
“Not through it. Over it.”
I reached into my Inventory again and withdrew a coil of rope that seemed to be made from some kind of silvery material.
[Item Analysis: Rope of Climbing. Magical properties include enhanced strength, silent movement, and the ability to anchor itself to any surface.]
“This should do the trick,” I said.
Gier stared at the rope. “Where do you keep getting these things?”
“Long story. Right now, I need you both to trust me. We’re going to climb over that fortress, and we’re going to do it without being seen.”
The plan was risky, but it was better than spending hours trying to navigate around unknown dangers in the dark forest. We approached the fortress from the rear, where the walls were lower and the sentries seemed less alert.
[Battle Mode: Enhanced stealth protocols active. Goblin patrol patterns analyzed. Optimal approach vector calculated.]
I threw the magical rope toward the top of the wall. It sailed silently through the air and somehow anchored itself to the wooden palisade without making a sound.
“Clarissa first,” I whispered. “The cloak will help hide you. Gier, you follow. I’ll bring up the rear.”
Clarissa proved to be an excellent climber - her years of sneaking around the city had given her good balance and upper body strength. She scaled the wall quickly and silently, disappearing over the top like a shadow.
Gier was more challenging. He was older and not used to this kind of physical activity, but the magical rope seemed to help, almost pulling him upward. He made it to the top with only a few quiet grunts of effort.
I followed last, my enhanced abilities making the climb trivial. At the top of the wall, I could see into the goblin compound. It was larger than I’d expected, with multiple buildings and what looked like a training ground where goblins were practicing with weapons.
[Alert: Sentry approaching this section of wall. Estimated arrival: 30 seconds.]
We dropped down the other side of the fortress just as a goblin guard rounded the corner where we’d been climbing. The rope dissolved into mist as soon as we were all safely down, leaving no evidence of our passage.
“That was incredible,” Gier whispered as we moved away from the fortress.
“Just wait until you see the castle,” I replied.
The rest of our journey through the Wild Woods was relatively uneventful. We encountered a few more groups of normal goblins, but they were easy to avoid with our enhanced stealth capabilities. The dire wolves seemed to be occupied with hunting our former pursuers, and the hobgoblins were apparently busy with their fortress.
As dawn began to break through the forest canopy, I caught my first glimpse of Castle Mir in the distance. The ancient stone towers rose above the trees like something out of a fairy tale, their walls gleaming in the early morning light.
“There it is,” I said, pointing toward the castle.
Clarissa let out a sigh of relief. “I never thought I’d be so happy to see those towers again.”
Gier shook his head in amazement. “Even knowing what to expect, seeing it again… it’s still incredible.”
[Alert: Castle defenses are scanning us. Magical identification in progress.]
I felt a familiar tingling sensation as the castle’s magical defenses recognized me. A moment later, the sensation faded.
[Analysis: We have been cleared for approach. The castle’s automated defenses will not engage.]
“Come on,” I said. “Let’s go home.”
As we emerged from the forest and approached the castle’s outer walls, I found myself thinking about how much had changed in just one night. Clarissa and her father were safe, but the Thieves Guild now knew exactly what I was capable of. The Mage Guild was involved, which meant the situation was escalating beyond simple criminal activity.
And somewhere in the city we’d just fled, my missing arm waited in a vault beneath the Merchant’s Exchange.
[Query: What is our next course of action?]
‘First, we get Clarissa and Gier settled safely in the castle. Then we need to talk to Bright and the others about what happened. And then…’
[Analysis: And then we plan an assault on the Thieves Guild.]
‘Exactly.’
The massive iron gates of Castle Mir swung open with a deep, resonant groan that echoed across the courtyard. I felt a familiar sense of homecoming as we crossed the threshold, but I was also acutely aware of how different this arrival was from my previous visits. This time, I wasn’t alone - Clarissa and her father Gier walked beside me, their eyes wide with wonder and more than a little fear.
[Alert: Castle defense systems have fully recognized our party. All automated protections are standing down.]
‘Thanks, ’face. Any sign of Bright or Argent?’
[Query Response: Multiple magical signatures detected in the main hall. Bright’s energy pattern is… elevated. Possibly agitated.]
That wasn’t surprising. I’d been gone longer than expected, and our mental connection had been intermittent during the chase through the Wild Woods. She was probably worried sick.
“Stay close to me,” I told Clarissa and Gier as we approached the main entrance. “The people you’re about to meet are… unique. But they’re friends.”
Gier clutched his worn cap in his hands, his weathered face pale with exhaustion and anxiety. “Aegis, I still don’t understand what’s happening. Those things you did in the forest, the magic items, this castle… What are you?”
Before I could answer, the massive oak doors burst open, and Bright came running out. She was in her human form, wearing a simple blue dress that matched her eyes, but her usual bubbly demeanor was replaced by obvious distress.
“Aegis!” she cried, throwing her arms around me in a fierce embrace. “I felt the connection fluctuating all night! I was so worried something terrible had happened to you!”
I hugged her back, feeling the familiar warmth of her magical energy flowing through our bond. “I’m okay, Bright. We ran into some trouble, but we made it.”
She pulled back to look at me, her hands cupping my face as she examined me for injuries. “You’re hurt,” she said, her fingers tracing a cut on my cheek that I hadn’t even noticed. “And exhausted. Your mana levels are dangerously low.”
“I’ll be fine,” I assured her. “But we have guests.”
Bright’s gaze shifted to Clarissa and Gier, and I saw her expression change. The worry was replaced by something else - curiosity mixed with what looked suspiciously like jealousy.
“So,” she said, her voice taking on a cooler tone, “this is the famous Clarissa.”
Clarissa stepped forward, and I noticed she was still wearing the Cloak of Shadows, which made her appear to shimmer slightly in the morning light. “Hello again, Bright. I’m glad we made it back safely.”
“Clarissa,” Bright replied, her expression softening slightly. “I felt the magical disturbances through our connection. I was worried about all of you.”
The tension between them was immediately palpable. Gier, meanwhile, was staring at Bright with the expression of a man who’d just seen his first unicorn.
“You’re… you’re actually glowing,” he whispered.
Bright glanced at him and her expression softened slightly. “Oh, that’s just residual mana discharge. It happens when I’m emotional.” She looked back at me. “We need to talk. Privately.”
“In a moment,” I said. “First, let me introduce everyone properly. Bright, this is Gier, Clarissa’s father. Gier, this is Bright - she’s… well, she’s complicated to explain.”
“I’m a being of pure mana given consciousness and form,” Bright said matter-of-factly. “I was created by Kendranen Mir to serve as Aegis’s magical support system and… other things.”
Gier’s knees buckled slightly, and Clarissa had to steady him. “Pure mana? You mean you’re not human?”
“Nope!” Bright’s cheerful demeanor returned for a moment. “Though I can be very human-like when I want to be.” She winked at me, and I felt my cheeks warm.
The sound of heavy footsteps announced Argent’s arrival. The massive brass knight emerged from the castle, his yellow eyes glowing in their metal sockets as he surveyed our group.
“Young Master Aegis,” he said in his deep, mechanical voice. “You have returned safely. This unit is… pleased.”
“Good to see you too, Argent,” I replied. “These are our guests - Clarissa and Gier. They’ll be staying with us for a while.”
Argent’s head turned toward the newcomers with a series of mechanical clicks and whirs. “Clarissa of the Thieves Guild,” he said, and I saw Clarissa stiffen. “Your reputation precedes you.”
“How did you…” Clarissa started.
“The castle’s information networks are quite extensive,” Argent replied. “Do not be concerned. Your past affiliations are irrelevant here. You are under Young Master Aegis’s protection.”
Gier was now staring at Argent with the same expression he’d worn when looking at Bright. “Is… is everyone here magical?”
“Not everyone,” I said. “Just most of us. Come on, let’s get you both inside and settled. You must be exhausted.”
As we entered the castle’s main hall, I was struck again by its grandeur. The vaulted ceilings stretched high above us, supported by massive stone columns carved with intricate runes. Tapestries depicting scenes of magical battles hung from the walls, and floating orbs of light provided illumination without any visible source of power.
“This is incredible,” Clarissa breathed, her earlier tension forgotten as she took in the surroundings. “It’s like something out of a fairy tale.”
“Wait until you see the rest of it,” I said. “Bright, could you show Gier to one of the guest rooms? He needs rest.”
“Of course,” Bright replied, though she shot a meaningful look at Clarissa. “Gier, if you’ll follow me? I’ll make sure you have everything you need.”
As Bright led Gier away, I turned to Clarissa. “We need to talk.”
“Yes, we do,” she agreed. “Aegis, what I did back in the city… betraying the Guild to help you escape… there’s no going back from that. They’ll kill me if they find me.”
“They won’t find you here,” I assured her. “This castle is protected by magical defenses that would make a fortress jealous. But you’re right - we need to discuss what happens next.”
[Alert: Archive is requesting your attention. The magical tome appears to have important information to share.]
‘Tell Archive I’ll be there shortly, ’face.’
[Response: Archive says it’s regarding your missing appendage. Apparently, the book has been conducting research.]
That got my attention. “Clarissa, there’s someone else you need to meet. Archive - he’s a magical book that contains all of Kendranen Mir’s accumulated knowledge.”
“A talking book?” Clarissa raised an eyebrow. “At this point, I shouldn’t be surprised by anything.”
We made our way to my chambers, where Archive waited on the desk. The golden eye on his cover opened as we approached.
“Ah, Aegis, my boy!” Archive said in his familiar Mr. Patterson voice. “And this must be the young lady who’s caused such a stir. Miss Clarissa, I presume?”
“That’s me,” Clarissa replied, though she took a step back from the talking book. “You’re Archive?”
“Indeed I am. A repository of magical knowledge, a teacher, and occasionally a source of unsolicited advice. Now then, Aegis, I have news about your missing arm.”
I leaned forward eagerly. “What did you find?”
“Through careful analysis of the magical resonance patterns in your existing limbs, I’ve been able to trace the location of your severed appendage. It’s being held in a magically warded vault beneath the Merchant’s Exchange building in the city.”
“The Merchant’s Exchange?” Clarissa frowned. “That’s Thieves Guild territory. They use the basement levels for storage and… other activities.”
“Precisely,” Archive continued. “The arm is being kept in a stasis field to prevent magical decay. Quite clever, actually. They’re preserving it for study or sale.”
I felt a surge of anger. “They’re treating my arm like a commodity.”
“Well, technically, it is quite valuable,” Archive pointed out. “A limb from a magical golem created by Kendranen Mir? There are collectors who would pay fortunes for such an artifact.”
“Over my dead body,” I growled.
“That’s rather the point we’re trying to avoid,” Archive said dryly. “Now, the good news is that the arm can be reattached. Bright’s abilities combined with the castle’s magical facilities should make the process relatively straightforward. The challenging part will be retrieving it.”
“How challenging?” I asked.
“The Merchant’s Exchange is heavily guarded, both by conventional security and magical wards. The Thieves Guild has turned it into a fortress. A direct assault would be… inadvisable.”
Clarissa spoke up. “I know the building. I’ve done jobs there before. The security is tight, but there are ways in if you know what you’re doing.”
I looked at her sharply. “Absolutely not. You’re not going back there. It’s too dangerous.”
“Aegis, I’m the only one here who knows the layout, the guard rotations, the security protocols. Without me, you’re going in blind.”
“She has a point,” Archive interjected. “Local knowledge would significantly improve the odds of success.”
Before I could respond, Bright’s voice echoed in my mind through our connection. ~Aegis? Could you come to the workshop level? There’s something I need to show you.~
‘The workshop level?’ I thought back. ‘What workshop level?’
~The surprise I’ve been working on, silly! It’s finally ready!~
I felt a surge of curiosity mixed with excitement. “Archive, Clarissa, I need to check on something. Can we continue this discussion later?”
“Of course, my boy. But don’t delay too long. The longer your arm remains separated, the more difficult reattachment becomes.”
I left Clarissa with Archive - they seemed to be getting along well, with the book regaling her with stories of magical theory while she asked practical questions about the castle’s defenses.
Following Bright’s mental directions, I made my way to a section of the castle I’d never seen before. A spiral staircase led downward from the main levels, ending at a heavy door marked with glowing runes.
~Just push it open,~ Bright’s voice whispered in my mind. ~The wards will recognize you.~
I placed my hand on the door, and the runes flared briefly before the door swung open. What I saw beyond took my breath away.
The workshop was enormous - easily the size of an aircraft hangar. The ceiling was supported by graceful arches that seemed to be made of crystallized light, and the walls were lined with workbenches, magical apparatus, and technological devices that defied easy categorization.
In the center of the space stood what could only be described as a magical forge. It was a circular platform surrounded by floating rings of different metals and crystals, all rotating slowly around a core of pure blue energy that pulsed in rhythm with my heartbeat.
“Do you like it?” Bright asked, appearing beside me in a shower of sparkles. She was wearing what looked like a combination of a lab coat and a wizard’s robe, with her hair tied back and safety goggles pushed up on her forehead.
“Bright, this is incredible,” I said, turning in a slow circle to take it all in. “How long have you been working on this?”
“Since the day you first arrived at the castle,” she replied, beaming with pride. “Kenny - Kendranen Mir - left detailed plans for a workshop specifically designed for you. A place where magic and technology could be combined, where you could learn and grow and create.”
I walked over to one of the workbenches, where I saw tools that seemed to be hybrids of magical implements and precision instruments. “What’s all this for?”
“Everything!” Bright said excitedly. “Magical research, technological enhancement, combat training, artifact creation - this workshop can do it all. Watch this!”
She gestured toward the central forge, and the rotating rings began to spin faster. The blue energy core brightened, and suddenly holographic displays appeared in the air around us, showing complex diagrams and formulas.
“This is a complete magical education system,” Bright explained. “It can teach you everything from basic mana manipulation to advanced enchantment theory. And over here…” She led me to another section of the workshop. “This is for physical training.”
The area she indicated contained what looked like a combination gymnasium and obstacle course, but with magical elements. Floating platforms, walls that could shift and change, and training dummies that moved with lifelike agility.
“And this,” Bright said, her voice dropping to a whisper as she led me to a smaller, more intimate area, “is for us.”
It was a comfortable seating area with soft chairs and a small table, surrounded by bookshelves filled with both magical tomes and what looked like technical manuals. A fireplace crackled warmly in one corner, and the lighting was soft and inviting.
“I thought we might need a place to just… talk,” Bright said, suddenly shy. “Away from all the chaos and danger. Somewhere we could be together without interruption.”
I felt my chest tighten with emotion. “Bright, this is… I don’t know what to say. You’ve created something amazing.”
“Do you really like it?” she asked, her eyes bright with hope.
“I love it,” I said honestly. “And I love that you made it for me. For us.”
She smiled and stepped closer, her hand finding mine. “There’s more. The workshop is connected to the castle’s main magical grid, which means it can enhance your abilities while you’re here. And it’s also connected to me - to the Source. When you’re working here, we’ll be even more closely linked than usual.”
[Alert: Magical resonance detected. The workshop’s systems are interfacing with my core functions.]
I could feel it too - a subtle but noticeable increase in my magical sensitivity. The blue lines of energy that ran through my body seemed brighter, more active.
“This is incredible, Bright. But why now? Why show me this today?”
Her expression grew more serious. “Because of what’s coming. The fight to get your arm back, the confrontation with the Guilds - you’re going to need every advantage you can get. This workshop will help you prepare.”
“Speaking of preparation,” I said, “we need to talk about Clarissa.”
Bright’s expression immediately cooled. “What about her?”
“She wants to help with the mission to retrieve my arm. She knows the Thieves Guild’s stronghold.”
“Absolutely not,” Bright said firmly. “It’s too dangerous. And besides, we don’t need her help.”
“Bright, be reasonable. She has knowledge we need.”
“She’s a thief, Aegis. A criminal. How do we know this isn’t all part of some elaborate scheme?”
I felt a flash of irritation. “Because she risked her life to help me escape. She betrayed her own Guild to protect me.”
“Or so she claims,” Bright replied, her eyes flashing. “Aegis, you’re too trusting. This girl could be playing a long game.”
“And you’re jealous,” I said, immediately regretting the words as soon as they left my mouth.
Bright’s face went pale, then flushed red. “Jealous? Of her? I’m a being of pure magical energy, Aegis. I’m literally part of you now. Why would I be jealous of some street thief?”
“Because she’s human,” I said quietly. “Because she can touch me without magical interfaces. Because she can be with me in ways that you can’t.”
The silence that followed was deafening. Bright stared at me with an expression I couldn’t read, and I felt our mental connection fluctuate wildly.
“Is that what you want?” she asked finally, her voice barely above a whisper. “Someone human?”
I reached for her hand, relieved when she didn’t pull away. “Bright, what I want is you. All of you. But I also care about Clarissa, and I won’t abandon her when she needs help.”
“Even if it puts you in danger?”
“Even then.”
Bright was quiet for a long moment, staring at our joined hands. When she looked up, her eyes were bright with unshed tears.
“I’m scared, Aegis,” she admitted. “Scared of losing you. Scared that you’ll decide you want a normal life with a normal girl instead of… whatever this is between us.”
I squeezed her hand gently. “Bright, look at me. I’m a magical golem with a computer for a brain and a terminal illness that brought me to another world. Normal isn’t exactly an option for me.”
That got a small smile from her. “When you put it like that…”
“Besides,” I continued, “what we have isn’t normal, but it’s real. It’s powerful. And it’s ours.”
She nodded slowly. “Okay. But I still don’t trust her completely.”
“You don’t have to trust her. Just trust me.”
“I do,” she said. “Always.”
We stood there for a moment, holding hands in the magical workshop she’d created for us, and I felt a sense of peace despite everything that was happening. Whatever challenges lay ahead, we’d face them together.
[Alert: Clarissa is approaching the workshop. She appears to be following the magical resonance signatures.]
“Looks like our private moment is over,” I said.
Bright sighed. “I suppose we should include her in the planning. If we’re really going to do this.”
“We are. And Bright? Thank you. For all of this. For everything.”
She smiled, and for a moment she was pure light and joy. “You’re welcome, Shieldy.”
The workshop door opened, and Clarissa stepped inside, her eyes widening as she took in the incredible space.
“Okay,” she said after a moment. “Now I’m impressed.”
“Welcome to the workshop,” I said. “This is where we’re going to plan how to get my arm back.”
Clarissa grinned, and for the first time since I’d met her, she looked genuinely excited rather than worried or conflicted.
“Then let’s get started,” she said. “I have some ideas.”
As the three of us gathered around the central planning area, with Archive’s voice joining us through the magical communication system and Argent’s heavy footsteps announcing his arrival, I realized that this was it - the moment when everything changed. We weren’t just reacting to threats anymore. We were taking the initiative.
The Thieves Guild had my arm, but they’d made a mistake in taking it. They’d given me a reason to come for them, and now I had the tools, the allies, and the determination to do exactly that.
[Query: Are you ready for what comes next?]
‘As ready as I’ll ever be, ’face. Let’s go get my arm back.’
The planning session in Bright’s workshop had gone late into the evening. We’d mapped out the Merchant’s Exchange building, identified security weaknesses, and developed what we hoped was a workable strategy for retrieving my arm. But as the others finally retired for the night, I found myself unable to sleep.
I wandered the castle’s corridors, my mind churning with everything that had happened. The confrontation with the Thieves Guild, Clarissa’s betrayal of her former allies, the revelation of Bright’s incredible workshop - it all felt like pieces of a puzzle that I couldn’t quite fit together.
[Alert: Elevated stress patterns detected. Recommend rest cycle initiation.]
‘Can’t sleep, ’face. Too much to think about.’
[Query Response: Would you like me to run a meditation subroutine? It might help calm your neural pathways.]
‘Maybe later. Right now I need to walk.’
I made my way to one of the castle’s many balconies, this one overlooking the Wild Woods. The moon was full, casting silver light across the treetops, and the night air was cool against my skin. I leaned against the stone railing and tried to make sense of everything.
That’s when I saw it.
A shadow moved among the shadows below, too fluid and purposeful to be natural. As I watched, it separated itself from the darkness at the base of the castle wall and began climbing. Not up the stone - through it, as if the wall itself was merely a suggestion.
The shadow reached the balcony and materialized into a familiar form: the black cat that had been haunting my dreams and appearing at crucial moments throughout my time in this world.
But this time was different. This time, the cat didn’t just sit and stare at me with those unsettling golden eyes. This time, it spoke.
“Hello, Aegis,” the cat said, its voice a low, cultured baritone that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. “We need to talk.”
I stared at the cat, my mind struggling to process what I was hearing. [Alert: Massive magical signature detected. This entity is far more powerful than initial scans indicated.]
“You can talk,” I said, which seemed like a stupid thing to say, but it was all my brain could manage at the moment.
“I can do many things,” the cat replied, sitting back on its haunches and regarding me with those golden eyes. “The question is whether you’re ready to hear what I have to say.”
“I… yes. I think so. Who are you? What are you?”
The cat’s form began to shimmer, and for a moment I saw something else - a tall figure in dark robes, with eyes that held the weight of centuries. Then the image faded, and it was just a cat again.
“I am many things,” it said. “A guardian. A guide. A keeper of secrets that span worlds and dimensions. But most importantly, Aegis, I am the one who brought you here.”
My legs suddenly felt weak. I gripped the balcony railing tighter. “You brought me here? From Earth?”
“From your Earth, yes. From the hospital room where you lay dying, your body ravaged by a disease that your world’s medicine could not cure.” The cat’s voice was gentle but implacable. “You were seventeen years old, and you had perhaps days left to live.”
The memories came flooding back - the sterile smell of the hospital, the constant beeping of machines, the look of helpless grief in my parents’ eyes. I’d tried so hard to forget those final days, but they were all there, sharp and painful.
“Why?” I whispered. “Why me?”
“Because you were perfect for what was needed,” the cat replied. “A brilliant mind trapped in a failing body. A soul strong enough to endure the transition between worlds, yet desperate enough to accept it. And most importantly, someone with nothing left to lose.”
“Nothing left to lose,” I repeated bitterly. “Is that what I was?”
“No,” the cat said firmly. “That’s what you were becoming. But here, in this world, you became something else entirely. You became the Shield.”
[Alert: The entity’s magical signature is interfacing with my core systems. I’m detecting… recognition protocols?]
‘What do you mean, recognition protocols?’
[Response: This entity’s magical pattern contains elements that match my original programming. It’s as if… as if it was involved in my creation.]
I looked at the cat with new understanding. “You knew Kendranen Mir.”
“I was Kendranen Mir’s teacher,” the cat said simply. “Long before he became the greatest mage of his generation, he was my student. And when he began his great work - the creation of a guardian who could protect this world from the darkness that was coming - I guided him.”
“The darkness that was coming?” I felt a chill that had nothing to do with the night air. “What darkness?”
The cat stood and began pacing along the balcony railing with impossible balance. “Tell me, Aegis, what do you know about the nature of reality? About the barriers between worlds?”
“Not much,” I admitted. “I know there are other worlds, other dimensions. I came from one of them.”
“Indeed. And those barriers, those walls between realities, they are not as solid as most believe. They can be weakened, damaged, even broken entirely. And when they break…”
The cat paused, its golden eyes reflecting the moonlight like twin flames.
“When they break, things come through. Things that should not exist in any world. Things that consume light, hope, life itself. We call them the Devourers.”
[Alert: Cross-referencing entity’s statements with Archive’s historical databases. Multiple references found to entities matching this description. Classification: Existential threat level.]
“The Devourers,” I repeated. “And they’re coming here?”
“They’re already here,” the cat said quietly. “In small numbers, testing the barriers, probing for weaknesses. But soon, very soon, they will come in force. And when they do, this world will need its Shield.”
I felt the weight of destiny settling on my shoulders like a lead blanket. “Me. I’m supposed to fight these things.”
“You are the Shield,” the cat confirmed. “Created specifically to stand against the Devourers. Your unique nature - part human consciousness, part magical construct, part technological marvel - makes you uniquely suited to combat them.”
“But I’m dying,” I said. “The same disease that was killing me on Earth, it’s still there. I can feel it.”
The cat’s expression grew sad. “Yes. The transition between worlds slowed the progression, but it could not stop it entirely. Your human body is still failing.”
“Then how am I supposed to be anyone’s shield? How can I protect this world if I can’t even protect myself?”
“Because,” the cat said, jumping down from the railing to sit directly in front of me, “your death is not the end of your story. It is the beginning of your true purpose.”
[Alert: The entity is preparing to share additional information. Recommend full attention and recording protocols.]
“What do you mean?”
“The body that Kendranen Mir created for you, the magical construct that houses your consciousness - it was designed to evolve. Each challenge you face, each magical ability you develop, each connection you forge with others like Bright and Interface - all of it is preparing you for the final transformation.”
“What transformation?”
“When your human body finally fails completely, your consciousness will transfer entirely into the magical construct. You will become something new - not human, not golem, but something greater than both. A being of pure will and purpose, powered by the connections you’ve forged and the love you’ve found.”
I thought about Bright, about our deep magical connection. About Interface and how it had grown from a simple AI into something approaching true consciousness. About the bonds I was forming with Clarissa, Archive, even Argent.
“The connections,” I said slowly. “They’re not just emotional, are they? They’re literally powering the construct.”
“Very good,” the cat said approvingly. “Love, friendship, loyalty, purpose - these are not mere emotions in a magical world. They are forces as real and powerful as gravity or electromagnetism. And you, Aegis, are a focal point for those forces.”
“But why didn’t anyone tell me this before? Why all the secrecy?”
The cat’s tail twitched. “Because knowledge of one’s destiny can be a burden as much as a gift. Kendranen Mir wanted you to develop naturally, to form genuine connections rather than forced ones. To become the Shield not because you had to, but because you chose to.”
I was quiet for a long moment, processing everything the cat had told me. The magnitude of it was overwhelming - I wasn’t just some sick kid who’d been given a second chance at life. I was a weapon, created specifically to fight an existential threat to an entire world.
“How long do I have?” I asked finally.
“Until the Devourers arrive in force? Perhaps a year, maybe two. Until your human body fails completely? Less than that. Months, not years.”
“And you’re sure about this transformation? That my consciousness will survive?”
“Nothing is certain,” the cat admitted. “But Kendranen Mir was the greatest mage of his generation, and he spent decades perfecting the process. The magical construct that houses your mind is more sophisticated than anything ever created. And you have something he couldn’t have planned for.”
“What’s that?”
“Interface. The AI that was merged with your consciousness during the transition - it has evolved far beyond its original parameters. It has become a true partner, a second consciousness that shares your body and your purpose. When the transformation comes, you won’t be alone.”
[Alert: The entity speaks truth. I can feel the changes in my core programming, the evolution toward something greater. We are becoming more than the sum of our parts.]
‘You knew about this, didn’t you, ’face?’
[Response: I suspected. The patterns were there, the gradual integration of our consciousness streams. But I did not have the full context until now.]
“There’s something else,” the cat continued. “The reason your arm was taken by the Thieves Guild - it wasn’t random. They were hired by agents of the Devourers, beings who have already crossed over and are working to weaken this world’s defenses.”
I felt a surge of anger. “They’re working with these things?”
“Unknowingly, in most cases. The Devourers are subtle. They corrupt slowly, offering power and wealth in exchange for small favors. Most of their human agents don’t even realize what they’re truly serving.”
“But some do?”
“Some do. And those are the most dangerous of all.”
I thought about the Thieves Guild’s unusual interest in my arm, their willingness to risk open conflict with both me and the Mage Guild. It made more sense now.
“So when we go to retrieve my arm…”
“You’ll be walking into a trap,” the cat confirmed. “But also an opportunity. The Devourer agents will reveal themselves when they realize what you truly are. And when they do, you’ll have your first real chance to strike back.”
“Will you help us?”
The cat was quiet for a moment. “I cannot interfere directly. The barriers between worlds limit my actions. But I can offer guidance, and I can ensure that you have the knowledge you need when the time comes.”
“What about Bright? Clarissa? The others? Are they in danger because of me?”
“They are in danger because the Devourers threaten everything that lives,” the cat replied. “But yes, their connection to you makes them particular targets. The bonds you’ve formed are sources of power, but they’re also vulnerabilities that your enemies will try to exploit.”
I felt a chill of fear, not for myself but for the people I cared about. “How do I protect them?”
“By becoming what you were meant to be. By embracing your role as the Shield. And by trusting in the connections you’ve forged.”
The cat began to fade, becoming translucent in the moonlight.
“Wait,” I called out. “I have more questions.”
“And I will answer them, when the time is right. For now, focus on the immediate challenges. Retrieve your arm. Complete your physical form. Continue your magical training. The rest will come when you’re ready.”
“How will I know when I’m ready?”
The cat’s golden eyes were the last thing to fade. “You’ll know, Aegis. When the moment comes, you’ll know.”
And then I was alone on the balcony, with only the moonlight and the sound of wind through the trees for company.
[Alert: The entity has departed, but its magical signature lingers. I am detecting residual data transfers - additional information has been embedded in my memory banks.]
‘What kind of information?’
[Response: Combat protocols. Defensive strategies. And… something else. A message, I think. Encrypted and locked until specific conditions are met.]
‘What conditions?’
[Response: Unknown. The encryption is beyond my current capabilities to break.]
I stood there for a long time, staring out at the Wild Woods and thinking about everything the cat had told me. I was the Shield, created to fight beings that threatened the very existence of this world. My friends were in danger because of their connection to me. And I was dying, with only months left before my human body failed completely.
But I wasn’t afraid. Strangely, I felt more at peace than I had since arriving in this world. Finally, I understood my purpose. Finally, I knew why I was here.
I thought about Bright, sleeping somewhere in the castle, and felt our connection pulse with warmth and love. I thought about Clarissa, who had risked everything to help me, and felt a fierce protectiveness rise in my chest. I thought about Interface, my constant companion and partner, and felt gratitude for its unwavering loyalty.
These connections, these bonds - they weren’t weaknesses to be exploited. They were sources of strength. They were what made me more than just a weapon.
They were what made me human, even as I was becoming something else entirely.
[Query: How do you feel about the revelations?]
‘Scared,’ I admitted. ‘But also… relieved. It’s like I’ve been carrying a weight I didn’t even know was there, and now I understand what it is.’
[Response: We will face whatever comes together. That has not changed.]
‘No, it hasn’t. If anything, it’s more true now than ever.’
I turned away from the balcony and headed back into the castle. Tomorrow, we would begin planning the mission to retrieve my arm. Tomorrow, we would take the first real step toward confronting the Devourers and their agents.
But tonight, I wanted to be with my friends. I wanted to feel the warmth of human connection, the bonds that would sustain me through whatever was coming.
I found Bright in the workshop, tinkering with some magical device I didn’t recognize. She looked up as I entered, and her face brightened with a smile.
“Couldn’t sleep either?” she asked.
“Too much on my mind,” I replied, settling into one of the comfortable chairs she’d arranged in our private area.
She joined me, curling up in the chair next to mine. “Want to talk about it?”
I thought about the cat’s warnings about knowledge being a burden. But looking at Bright, feeling the warmth of our connection, I realized that some burdens were meant to be shared.
“Actually, yes,” I said. “There’s something I need to tell you. Something important.”
As I began to explain what the cat had revealed, I saw understanding dawn in Bright’s eyes. Not surprise - she’d suspected some of it already. But understanding, and acceptance, and something else.
Determination.
“So,” she said when I finished, “we’re going to save the world.”
“Looks like it.”
“Good,” she said firmly. “I was getting bored with just saving you.”
Despite everything, I laughed. “Just like that?”
“Just like that. Aegis, did you think learning about your destiny would change how I feel about you? You’re still the same person who risked his life to save a village from goblins. You’re still the same person who chose to help Clarissa even when it put you in danger. Knowing that you were created to be a hero doesn’t make you less of one - it just explains why you’re so good at it.”
I reached for her hand, and she took it without hesitation. “What about the danger? The cat said our connections make us targets.”
“Then we’ll deal with it,” she said simply. “Together. That’s what connections are for, isn’t it? To make us stronger, not weaker.”
[Alert: Clarissa is approaching the workshop. She appears distressed.]
Before I could respond to Interface’s warning, the workshop door burst open and Clarissa rushed in. Her hair was disheveled and her eyes were wide with fear.
“Aegis,” she gasped, “we have a problem. A big one.”
“What’s wrong?” I asked, standing up quickly.
“I’ve been monitoring the Guild communication networks,” she said, pulling out a small magical device I hadn’t seen before. “There’s been chatter all night about a major operation. They’re not just planning to defend the Merchant’s Exchange - they’re planning to attack the castle.”
Bright was on her feet instantly. “Attack the castle? When?”
“Tomorrow night,” Clarissa replied. “During the new moon, when the magical defenses are at their weakest. They’re bringing everything - Guild assassins, hired mercenaries, and…” She paused, her face pale. “And something else. Something they’re calling ‘the Hunger.’”
I felt a chill run down my spine. The Hunger. It sounded like exactly the kind of name the Devourers would use.
“How many?” I asked.
“At least fifty fighters, maybe more. And whatever this ‘Hunger’ thing is, they seem to think it’s worth an army by itself.”
I looked at Bright, then back at Clarissa. The cat had said I’d have my first real chance to strike back at the Devourer agents. It looked like that chance was coming sooner than expected.
“Then we don’t wait for them to come to us,” I said. “We go to them first. Tonight.”
“Tonight?” Bright looked alarmed. “Aegis, we’re not ready. The plan isn’t complete.”
“The plan was for a stealth mission to retrieve my arm,” I replied. “But if they’re bringing the fight to us anyway, we might as well make it count. Besides, we have advantages they don’t know about.”
“Such as?”
I thought about the cat’s revelations, about my true nature and purpose. About the connections that made me stronger rather than weaker.
“Such as the fact that I’m not just some magical construct they can study and dissect,” I said. “I’m the Shield. And it’s time I started acting like it.”
[Alert: All castle defense systems are now online and responding to your commands. Argent and Archive are requesting immediate consultation.]
‘Tell them we’re on our way, ’face. It’s time to plan a war.’
As we hurried toward the main hall to gather our allies, I felt something I hadn’t experienced since arriving in this world: complete certainty about what I needed to do.
The Devourers wanted a fight? They were about to get one.
But first, I was getting my arm back.
The main hall of Castle Mir had been transformed into a war room. Archive sat open on the massive oak table, its golden eye gleaming as it projected detailed maps of the city and the Merchant’s Exchange building. Argent stood at attention beside the table, his brass form reflecting the magical light from the projections. The steam knight’s yellow eyes glowed with what I was beginning to recognize as anticipation.
“The situation is more complex than we initially assessed,” Archive said in Mr. Patterson’s familiar voice. “The Thieves Guild has been planning this operation for weeks, possibly months. Their intelligence network is far more sophisticated than we gave them credit for.”
I studied the projected map, noting the red markers that indicated Guild positions throughout the city. There were a lot of them. “How did they get so organized so quickly?”
“They didn’t,” Clarissa said grimly. She’d changed out of her nightclothes into practical dark leather gear that made her look every inch the professional thief she’d once been. “This level of coordination takes time. They’ve been planning to move against the castle since before I ever met you, Aegis. My… relationship with you just gave them the perfect excuse to accelerate their timeline.”
[Alert: Magical signatures detected approaching the castle perimeter. Multiple entities, moving with coordinated precision.]
‘How many, ’face?’
[Response: Seventeen distinct signatures. They’re maintaining distance but appear to be conducting reconnaissance.]
“We have scouts,” I announced to the room. “Seventeen of them, keeping their distance but watching us.”
Bright, who had been unusually quiet since we’d gathered, suddenly stood up. “That settles it then. We can’t wait any longer.” She turned to me, her blue eyes blazing with determination. “Aegis, it’s time I showed you what I’ve really been working on.”
“Your mysterious project?” I asked. “Now?”
“Especially now,” she replied. “What I’ve built… it’s not just a workshop. It’s a training facility, a magical laboratory, and a weapons forge all in one. If we’re going to war, you need to see what resources we actually have at our disposal.”
Archive’s eye swiveled toward Bright. “Are you certain he’s ready? The integration process alone could take hours, and we may not have that kind of time.”
“He’s as ready as he’s going to be,” Bright said firmly. “And besides, the cat’s revelations change everything. If Aegis truly is the Shield, then he needs to understand the full scope of what Kendranen Mir prepared for him.”
I looked around the room at my assembled allies. Clarissa was checking her daggers with practiced efficiency. Argent stood ready for battle, steam occasionally venting from his joints. Archive’s projections showed enemy positions closing in around us. And Bright… Bright looked like she was about to reveal the secret she’d been keeping since the day we met.
“All right,” I said. “Show me.”
Bright’s face lit up with excitement, the first genuine smile I’d seen from her since Clarissa had brought news of the impending attack. “Follow me. All of you. What I’m about to show you will change how we approach not just this battle, but everything that comes after.”
She led us deeper into the castle than I’d ever been before, down corridors I didn’t recognize and through doorways that seemed to appear only when Bright approached them. The magical architecture of Castle Mir was more complex than I’d realized, with spaces that existed in folded dimensions and rooms that were bigger on the inside than the outside.
[Alert: The magical field density is increasing exponentially. Whatever we’re approaching, it’s drawing power from the castle’s core systems.]
‘Is that dangerous?’
[Response: Unknown. But the energy patterns are unlike anything in my databases. This is beyond even Kendranen Mir’s usual work.]
We descended a spiral staircase that seemed to go down much farther than the castle’s foundation should have allowed. The walls were covered in intricate runic patterns that pulsed with soft blue light, and I could feel the magical energy building with each step.
“Bright,” I said, “just how deep does this castle go?”
“Deeper than you might think,” she replied mysteriously. “Kendranen Mir didn’t just build a castle, Aegis. He built a fortress that exists partially in this dimension and partially in others. The workshop I’ve been preparing for you… it’s in a space that’s technically part of the castle but also separate from it. A pocket dimension designed specifically for your training and development.”
“A pocket dimension?” Clarissa sounded impressed despite herself. “I’ve heard of such things, but I thought they were just legends.”
“Most are,” Archive said from where Argent carried him. “Creating a stable pocket dimension requires not just immense magical power, but also a deep understanding of dimensional mechanics. Kendranen Mir was one of perhaps three mages in recorded history capable of such a feat.”
We reached the bottom of the staircase and found ourselves facing a massive door made of what looked like crystallized starlight. Runes covered every inch of its surface, and they pulsed in complex patterns that seemed to respond to our presence.
“This is it,” Bright said, placing her hand on the door’s center. “The workshop I’ve been preparing for you since the day you first arrived at the castle. Kendranen Mir designed it, but I’ve spent months customizing it specifically for your needs.”
The door began to dissolve, not opening but simply fading away like morning mist. Beyond it lay a space that defied description.
The workshop was enormous, easily the size of an aircraft hangar, but the ceiling seemed to stretch up into infinity. The walls were lined with equipment that blended magical and technological elements in ways I’d never seen before. Floating platforms provided multiple levels of workspace, connected by bridges of solid light that appeared and disappeared as needed.
But what caught my attention immediately was the centerpiece of the room: a raised platform surrounded by concentric circles of runic inscriptions, with what looked like a high-tech medical chair at its center. The chair was clearly designed for someone of my proportions, with specialized attachments and interfaces that I recognized as being compatible with my golem physiology.
“Welcome,” Bright said, her voice filled with pride and excitement, “to your true workshop. This is where you’ll complete your training, where you’ll learn to integrate your magical and technological abilities, and where you’ll prepare for the battles ahead.”
I walked slowly into the space, my enhanced senses trying to process the sheer complexity of what I was seeing. Every surface was covered with devices I couldn’t identify, magical circles that hummed with power, and technological interfaces that seemed to respond to my presence.
[Alert: Multiple systems are attempting to interface with my core programming. Recommend caution.]
‘Are they hostile?’
[Response: Negative. They appear to be… welcoming protocols. As if they’ve been waiting for us.]
“How is this possible?” I asked, running my hand along a console that immediately lit up with displays showing my vital signs, magical energy levels, and system status. “This level of integration between magic and technology…”
“Is exactly what Kendranen Mir designed you for,” Bright finished. “Aegis, you’re not just a magical construct with technological components, or a robot with magical enhancements. You’re something entirely new - a perfect fusion of both disciplines. And this workshop is designed to help you explore and develop that fusion.”
Clarissa was staring around the room with wide eyes. “This is incredible. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Nor have I,” Archive admitted. “And I have access to all of Kendranen Mir’s recorded knowledge. This represents work he did in secret, even from me.”
Argent moved to one of the larger workstations and examined it with obvious interest. “These systems are designed for enhancement and modification of magical constructs,” he observed. “But the sophistication level is far beyond anything I have encountered.”
Bright beamed at their reactions. “That’s because this isn’t just a workshop - it’s a complete magical-technological ecosystem. Watch this.” She moved to a central control panel and began manipulating what looked like a combination of magical symbols and holographic interfaces.
The room responded immediately. Platforms began moving, reconfiguring themselves into new arrangements. Magical circles activated, filling the air with complex geometric patterns of light. And throughout it all, I could feel the systems reaching out to me, trying to establish connections with my own magical and technological components.
“The workshop can adapt to whatever you need,” Bright explained as she worked. “Combat training? It can create holographic opponents with full magical and physical capabilities. Magical education? It has access to spell libraries that span multiple dimensions. Technological enhancement? The fabrication systems can create and install upgrades that would take months to develop elsewhere.”
She gestured to the medical chair at the center of the main platform. “And that’s where the real magic happens. It’s an integration chamber, designed to help you merge new magical abilities with your existing technological systems. Think of it as a combination of magical ritual circle and high-tech medical bay.”
I approached the chair cautiously. It looked comfortable enough, but the array of magical and technological interfaces surrounding it was intimidating. “What kind of integration are we talking about?”
“Everything,” Bright said simply. “Enhanced magical channeling through your technological components. Improved interface between your consciousness and your golem body. New combat capabilities that combine the best of both magical and technological approaches. And eventually…” She paused, looking uncertain for the first time since we’d entered the workshop.
“Eventually what?” I prompted.
“Eventually, preparation for your final transformation. When your human consciousness fully transfers to the magical construct, this chamber will help ensure the process goes smoothly.”
The weight of that statement settled over the room like a heavy blanket. My final transformation - the moment when I would stop being human and become something else entirely.
[Alert: The integration chamber’s systems are compatible with my architecture. I can interface with them directly.]
‘What would that do?’
[Response: Unknown, but the potential for enhancement is significant. The chamber appears designed to optimize the connection between consciousness, magical energy, and technological systems.]
“There’s more,” Bright continued, moving to another section of the workshop. “Combat training facilities that can simulate any environment or opponent. A magical forge that can create weapons and tools specifically attuned to your unique nature. And…” She gestured to a section of the room that was curtained off with what looked like sheets of liquid starlight. “A private area where we can work together on developing your magical abilities without interference.”
I felt a warmth in my chest that had nothing to do with my magical power source. “You built all this for me?”
“Kendranen Mir designed the basic structure,” Bright said, her cheeks flushing slightly. “But I’ve spent every day since you arrived customizing it, adding features I thought you’d need, preparing for the moment when you’d be ready to see it.”
“And you think I’m ready now?”
“I think you don’t have a choice,” she replied seriously. “The Thieves Guild attack, the Devourer agents, your missing arm - everything is accelerating. If you’re going to survive what’s coming, you need every advantage we can give you.”
Clarissa had been exploring one of the combat training areas and called out to us. “Aegis, you need to see this!”
We joined her at what looked like a circular arena surrounded by magical barriers. As we approached, the space filled with holographic opponents - Guild assassins, magical creatures, even what looked like shadowy figures that might have been Devourers.
“The system has been analyzing intelligence about your potential enemies,” Bright explained. “It can create training scenarios based on real threats you’re likely to face.”
I watched as the holographic assassins moved through complex attack patterns, their weapons gleaming with magical enhancements. “How realistic are they?”
“Completely,” Bright said. “They can cause real damage if you’re not careful. But they can also help you develop combat skills that would take years to learn through traditional training.”
[Alert: The combat simulation systems are requesting permission to interface with my Battle Mode protocols. Integration would significantly enhance training effectiveness.]
‘Do it, ’face. If we’re going to war, I want every advantage we can get.’
[Response: Integration beginning. Warning: this may cause temporary disorientation.]
The world suddenly shifted around me. The holographic opponents became more real, more threatening. I could sense their attack patterns, predict their movements, identify their weaknesses. It was like Battle Mode, but enhanced and refined.
“Incredible,” I breathed. “I can see everything - their magical signatures, their combat styles, even their probable next moves.”
“That’s just the beginning,” Bright said excitedly. “The workshop can enhance all your abilities - magical, technological, and physical. But it requires time and training to reach its full potential.”
“Time we don’t have,” Clarissa pointed out. “The Guild attack is tomorrow night.”
“Then we focus on immediate needs,” Archive said pragmatically. “Combat enhancement, magical channeling improvement, and tactical preparation. The deeper integration can wait until after we’ve dealt with the immediate threat.”
I looked around the workshop again, trying to process the magnitude of what Bright had created for me. It wasn’t just a training facility - it was a complete support system designed to help me become everything I was meant to be.
“All right,” I said. “Where do we start?”
Bright’s smile was radiant. “With your magical education. You’ve been learning bits and pieces, but you need a comprehensive understanding of how magic works in this world. The workshop can accelerate that process significantly.”
She led me to a section filled with floating books, magical diagrams, and what looked like three-dimensional spell models. “This is the magical education center. It’s connected to Archive’s knowledge base, but it can present information in ways that are specifically tailored to your learning style.”
As I approached, the books began opening themselves, displaying pages of magical theory and practical applications. The three-dimensional models showed spell structures in detail, breaking down complex magical processes into understandable components.
“The beauty of your unique nature,” Bright explained, “is that you can approach magic from both intuitive and analytical perspectives. Your human consciousness provides the creativity and intuition needed for magical work, while your technological components can analyze and optimize magical processes with mathematical precision.”
I reached out to touch one of the spell models - a complex structure that looked like a combination of geometric shapes and flowing energy patterns. The moment my fingers made contact, I felt a surge of understanding. I could see how the spell worked, how the magical energy flowed through the structure, how different components interacted to produce the desired effect.
[Alert: Magical learning protocols activated. I am receiving detailed information about spell structures and energy manipulation techniques.]
‘This is incredible, ’face. I can actually understand how magic works at a fundamental level.’
[Response: The integration between magical theory and technological analysis is providing unprecedented insight. We are learning at an accelerated rate.]
“How long would it normally take to learn this much about magic?” I asked.
“Years,” Archive replied. “Decades, for some of the more advanced concepts. But your unique nature allows you to process magical information in ways that traditional students cannot.”
Bright moved to another section of the workshop. “And this is where we’ll work on combat applications. The workshop can create training scenarios that combine magical and technological combat techniques.”
The area she indicated was filled with weapon racks, but these weren’t ordinary weapons. Each blade, staff, and projectile weapon glowed with magical energy and featured technological enhancements that I could sense were compatible with my systems.
“Weapons designed specifically for me?” I asked.
“Weapons designed specifically for someone who can channel both magical energy and technological power,” Bright confirmed. “Try this one.”
She handed me what looked like a sword, but as soon as I grasped the hilt, I realized it was much more. The blade hummed with magical energy, but I could also feel technological systems activating in response to my touch.
[Alert: Weapon interface established. This device can channel both magical energy and technological power through integrated systems.]
The sword felt perfect in my hand, balanced and responsive in ways that went beyond mere craftsmanship. I could sense that it was designed to work with my specific magical and technological signatures.
“The workshop can create weapons and tools tailored to your exact specifications,” Bright explained. “As your abilities develop, your equipment can evolve with you.”
Clarissa was examining a set of daggers that seemed to be made of crystallized shadow. “These are incredible. I’ve never seen craftsmanship like this.”
“The workshop isn’t limited to creating items for Aegis,” Bright said. “It can enhance equipment for all of us. Your daggers, for instance - they could be enhanced with magical properties that would make them far more effective against supernatural opponents.”
“Like Devourers?” Clarissa asked.
“Especially like Devourers,” Bright confirmed grimly. “Traditional weapons are largely ineffective against them. But magically enhanced weapons, particularly those attuned to specific individuals, can cause real damage.”
Argent had been examining the larger weapon systems and spoke up. “These heavy weapons platforms appear designed for siege warfare. Are we expecting that level of conflict?”
“We’re preparing for it,” I said. “The cat warned me that the Devourers are already here, working through human agents. If the Thieves Guild is being influenced by them, we might be facing more than just criminals and mercenaries.”
Bright nodded seriously. “That’s why the workshop includes defensive systems as well as offensive ones. Watch this.”
She moved to another control panel and activated what looked like a magical shield generator. Immediately, the entire workshop was surrounded by a shimmering barrier of energy.
“The workshop exists in a pocket dimension,” she explained, “but it’s also connected to the castle’s main defensive systems. If we’re attacked, this space can serve as a secure command center and fallback position.”
I was beginning to understand the true scope of what Bright had created. This wasn’t just a workshop - it was a complete magical-technological fortress designed to support me in my role as the Shield.
“There’s one more thing,” Bright said, her voice becoming softer, more personal. “The private area I mentioned earlier. It’s not just for magical training.”
She led me to the section curtained with liquid starlight. As we approached, the curtains parted to reveal a space that was clearly designed for two people. Comfortable seating, soft lighting, and an atmosphere of intimacy that made my chest orb pulse with warmth.
“This is where we can work together on developing the deeper aspects of your magical abilities,” Bright said, her cheeks flushing. “The connection between us - it’s not just romantic. It’s a magical bond that can enhance both our abilities.”
I felt the truth of her words in the warm pulse of our connection. “You mean we can actually make each other stronger?”
“Much stronger,” she confirmed. “Magical partnerships like ours are rare, but when they work, they can amplify both partners’ abilities exponentially. The workshop is designed to help us explore and develop that potential.”
[Alert: Clarissa is approaching. She appears to have overheard the conversation.]
Clarissa stepped into view, her expression carefully neutral. “So this is where you two will be spending your time together?”
There was an edge to her voice that made me realize we were walking into potentially dangerous emotional territory. The last thing we needed before a major battle was conflict between our allies.
“Clarissa,” I said carefully, “the magical partnership Bright is talking about - it’s not about excluding you. It’s about maximizing our effectiveness as a team.”
“I understand,” she said, though her tone suggested she didn’t entirely. “I’m not a mage, so I can’t contribute to that kind of training. But I can contribute in other ways.”
Bright, to her credit, immediately picked up on the tension. “Actually, that’s not entirely true. Clarissa, your connection to Aegis is different from mine, but it’s no less real. The workshop can help develop that connection too.”
“What do you mean?” Clarissa asked, her interest clearly piqued despite her reservations.
“You’re not a mage in the traditional sense,” Bright explained, “but you have other abilities that can be magically enhanced. Your stealth skills, your combat training, your intuitive understanding of people and situations - all of these can be amplified through magical means.”
She led us to another section of the workshop, this one filled with equipment that looked more suited to a spy or assassin than a mage. “The workshop can create enhancement programs tailored to your specific skill set. You could become the perfect infiltrator, capable of moving unseen through any environment and striking with supernatural precision.”
Clarissa’s eyes lit up with interest. “You’re talking about magical enhancement of my existing abilities, not trying to turn me into something I’m not.”
“Exactly,” Bright confirmed. “Everyone has natural talents. Magic can enhance those talents, but it works best when it builds on what’s already there rather than trying to impose something foreign.”
I felt a surge of gratitude toward Bright for her sensitivity to Clarissa’s feelings. The potential for jealousy and conflict between them had been a constant worry, but Bright was handling the situation with remarkable grace.
“So we can all train together?” I asked.
“We can all train together,” Bright confirmed. “The workshop is designed to support a team, not just an individual. Your abilities complement each other, and the workshop can help you develop those complementary strengths.”
Archive spoke up from where Argent had placed him on a reading stand. “This is all very impressive, but we should remember that we have immediate tactical concerns. The Guild attack is less than twenty-four hours away.”
“You’re right,” I said. “What can we accomplish in that time frame?”
Bright considered the question seriously. “Basic magical enhancement for everyone. Combat training with the new weapons systems. Tactical coordination exercises. And…” She looked at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read. “If you’re willing, we could attempt a preliminary integration session.”
“What would that involve?”
“Using the integration chamber to optimize the connection between your consciousness, your magical abilities, and your technological systems. It wouldn’t be the full transformation - that will come later - but it would significantly enhance your capabilities for the upcoming battle.”
[Alert: The integration chamber’s systems are fully compatible with my architecture. Preliminary integration would likely result in substantial capability improvements.]
‘Any risks, ’face?’
[Response: Unknown. The process is beyond my current experience base. However, the potential benefits appear to outweigh the risks, given our current situation.]
I looked around at my assembled allies. Bright, eager and hopeful. Clarissa, determined despite her concerns. Archive, pragmatic and supportive. Argent, ready for whatever came next.
“All right,” I said. “Let’s do it. All of it. We have less than a day to prepare for war, so let’s make the most of it.”
Bright’s smile was brilliant. “Then let’s begin with the integration session. Everyone else can start familiarizing themselves with the workshop’s systems while we work on enhancing Aegis’s core capabilities.”
As I approached the integration chamber, I felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension. This was another step toward becoming something more than human, another move away from the sick teenager I’d once been and toward the Shield I was meant to become.
But looking at my friends, feeling the warmth of their support and determination, I realized that becoming something more than human didn’t mean becoming less than myself. It meant becoming the best version of myself - someone capable of protecting the people and the world I’d come to love.
The integration chamber hummed to life as I settled into the specialized chair. Magical energy and technological systems began interfacing with my consciousness in ways I’d never experienced before.
And for the first time since arriving in this world, I felt truly ready for whatever was coming next.
[Alert: Integration sequence initiated. Prepare for consciousness expansion.]
‘Here we go, ’face. Let’s see what we can become.’
[Response: Together, as always.]
The workshop filled with light as the integration began, and I felt myself changing, growing, becoming something greater than the sum of my parts.
The Shield was awakening.
The integration chamber’s effects were still coursing through my systems as we made our final preparations for the assault on the Thieves Guild headquarters. My consciousness felt expanded, more connected to both my magical and technological components than ever before. Every sensor, every magical circuit, every runic inscription on my body hummed with enhanced power and precision.
[Alert: All systems operating at 127% of previous baseline efficiency. Integration successful.]
‘How is that even possible, ’face? Over one hundred percent?’
[Response: The integration process has optimized the connection between your consciousness, magical energy, and technological systems. We are now operating as a truly unified entity rather than separate components working together.]
I flexed my remaining hand, watching the blue energy lines pulse beneath my metallic skin with new intensity. The missing weight of my left arm felt more pronounced than ever, but soon that would be remedied.
“The enhancement is remarkable,” Archive observed from his position on the war room table. “Your magical signature has increased by approximately forty percent, and your technological systems are operating with unprecedented efficiency.”
Bright stood beside me, her own magical aura shimmering with excitement and nervous energy. She’d changed into what she called her “battle outfit” - a form-fitting suit of midnight blue that seemed to be woven from starlight itself, with practical armor plates that gleamed with protective enchantments. Her usual bubbly demeanor had been replaced by focused determination.
“The integration went better than I hoped,” she said, checking the magical weapons we’d prepared. “Your ability to channel magical energy through technological systems is now seamless. You should be able to use spells and technological abilities simultaneously without any interference.”
Clarissa was adjusting the straps on her enhanced leather armor, testing the movement of her magically augmented daggers. The workshop had worked its magic on her equipment too - her blades now shimmered with shadow magic that would allow them to cut through both physical and magical defenses.
“I still can’t believe how much stronger I feel,” she said, performing a series of practice strikes that left trails of darkness in the air. “It’s like every skill I’ve ever learned has been amplified.”
“That’s exactly what happened,” Bright explained. “The workshop didn’t give you new abilities - it enhanced the ones you already had to supernatural levels. Your stealth, your combat skills, your intuitive understanding of people and situations - all of it has been magically augmented.”
Argent stood at the ready, his brass form gleaming with fresh polish and new magical enhancements. Steam vented from his joints in steady, rhythmic puffs that spoke of barely contained power. The workshop had upgraded his systems too, adding new combat protocols and enhanced magical resistance.
“All units report ready for deployment,” he announced in his formal mechanical voice. “Weapons systems charged, defensive protocols active, tactical analysis complete.”
I studied the detailed map Archive was projecting, showing the Merchant’s Exchange building where my arm was being held. The structure was a fortress in its own right - five stories of reinforced stone and steel, with magical wards protecting every entrance and exit. The Thieves Guild had chosen their stronghold well.
“Intelligence reports indicate approximately thirty Guild members in the building,” Archive said, highlighting different sections of the map. “However, we must assume they’ve called in additional support given the importance of this operation to them.”
“What about the vault where my arm is being kept?” I asked.
“Sub-basement level, behind multiple layers of both magical and mechanical security,” Archive replied. “The Guild uses it to store their most valuable… acquisitions. Your arm is likely being kept in a stasis field to prevent deterioration.”
[Alert: Magical signatures detected approaching the castle. The same seventeen entities from before, but now accompanied by additional forces.]
‘How many additional, ’face?’
[Response: Difficult to determine exact numbers due to magical concealment, but estimate between forty and sixty additional hostiles.]
“We have a problem,” I announced. “The Guild scouts have returned with reinforcements. Looks like they’re planning to attack the castle while we’re away.”
Bright’s eyes flashed with anger. “They think they can use our assault as cover for their own attack. They’re trying to force us into a defensive position.”
“Or they’re trying to divide our forces,” Clarissa added grimly. “If we leave the castle undefended to retrieve your arm, they can take it. If we stay to defend it, they keep your arm and maintain their leverage over us.”
I felt the familiar surge of protective anger, but this time it was tempered by tactical thinking enhanced by the integration process. “Then we don’t give them the choice. We hit them hard and fast, retrieve my arm, and get back before they can mount a serious assault on the castle.”
“The castle’s defenses can hold for a limited time,” Archive said. “But not indefinitely against a force of that size.”
“How long do we have?” I asked.
“Perhaps two hours before they can breach the outer defenses,” Archive calculated. “Less if they have magical siege equipment.”
“Then we move now,” I decided. “Bright, can you maintain the castle’s defenses remotely?”
“To some extent,” she replied. “My connection to the Source allows me to power the defensive systems even when I’m not physically present. But my effectiveness will be reduced.”
“It’ll have to be enough. Argent, you’re staying here to coordinate the castle’s defenses.”
The steam knight’s yellow eyes flared with what I was learning to recognize as disappointment. “I would prefer to accompany you into battle.”
“I know, but the castle needs a defender, and you’re the best qualified. Besides, someone needs to protect Archive.”
“A logical assessment,” Argent conceded. “I will maintain defensive positions and provide tactical support via magical communication.”
I turned to Clarissa and Bright. “Are you both sure about this? Once we start, there’s no going back. The Guild will throw everything they have at us.”
“I’ve been preparing for this moment since I first betrayed them to protect you,” Clarissa said firmly. “It’s time to finish what we started.”
“And I’ve been preparing for this since Kendranen Mir first told me about you,” Bright added. “We’re stronger together, Aegis. All of us.”
[Alert: Magical transportation circle activated in the workshop. Bright has prepared our insertion method.]
I looked at the glowing circle of runes that had appeared on the workshop floor. “Teleportation?”
“Direct insertion into the building’s main hall,” Bright confirmed. “I’ve been studying their magical defenses for weeks. There’s a brief window every hour when the wards cycle through their reset sequence. We’ll have exactly thirty seconds to get in before they reactivate.”
“And getting out?”
“That’s where things get interesting,” she said with a grin that reminded me of her more playful side. “I’ve prepared a few surprises for our exit strategy.”
We stepped into the transportation circle, and I felt the familiar tingle of magical energy building around us. But this time, enhanced by the integration process, I could sense the spell’s structure, understand how it worked, even contribute my own power to stabilize it.
“Remember,” I said as the teleportation magic reached its peak, “we’re not just here to get my arm back. We’re here to send a message. The Thieves Guild needs to understand that threatening my friends and family has consequences.”
The world dissolved into swirling magical energy, and we were transported directly into the heart of enemy territory.
We materialized in the main hall of the Merchant’s Exchange building, a grand space with marble floors and soaring columns that had been converted into a fortress command center. Guild members were scattered throughout the room, some studying maps, others maintaining weapons, all of them completely unprepared for our sudden appearance.
[Alert: Seventeen hostiles detected in immediate vicinity. Weapons drawn, magical signatures active.]
‘Battle Mode, ’face. Full enhancement.’
[Response: Battle Mode activated. Enhanced integration allows for sustained operation without power drain.]
Time seemed to slow as my enhanced perception kicked in. I could see every Guild member’s position, predict their movements, identify their weapons and magical capabilities. But more than that, I could feel Bright and Clarissa’s positions relative to mine, sense their intentions and coordinate our actions without needing to speak.
The first Guild assassin was already moving toward us, a curved blade gleaming with poison magic. I sidestepped his strike and delivered a devastating punch that sent him flying across the room. My enhanced strength, amplified by both magical and technological systems, was far beyond what it had been before the integration.
Clarissa had vanished into shadow, her enhanced stealth abilities making her effectively invisible to normal sight. I could track her through our magical connection as she moved through the room like a deadly ghost, her shadow-enhanced daggers finding their targets with supernatural precision.
Bright raised her hands, and the air around her erupted with magical energy. Bolts of pure force lanced out to strike multiple targets simultaneously, while protective barriers deflected incoming attacks. Her power, always impressive, now seemed limitless.
“Surrender now,” I called out to the remaining Guild members, my voice amplified by technological systems to carry clearly through the chaos, “and you’ll live to see tomorrow. Continue fighting, and I can’t guarantee your safety.”
A Guild mage stepped forward, his hands wreathed in dark energy. “You think you can just walk in here and make demands? This is our territory, golem. You’re outnumbered and outgunned.”
“Am I?” I asked, and activated one of the new abilities the integration had unlocked.
Magical energy flowed through my technological systems, creating a feedback loop that amplified both aspects of my nature. The blue lines on my body blazed with brilliant light as I channeled power on a scale I’d never achieved before.
The Guild mage’s attack struck my hastily raised barrier and simply… stopped. The dark energy dissipated harmlessly against my enhanced defenses.
“Impossible,” he breathed.
“Not impossible,” I replied, and struck back.
The magical-technological hybrid attack I unleashed was unlike anything I’d ever produced before. It combined the precision of technological targeting with the raw power of magical energy, creating a focused beam that struck the mage with enough force to knock him unconscious without causing permanent harm.
The remaining Guild members looked around at their fallen comrades and made the smart choice. Weapons clattered to the floor as they raised their hands in surrender.
“Smart,” I said, though I kept my defenses active. “Now, where’s your leader? I want to speak with whoever’s in charge of this operation.”
“Third floor,” one of them said quickly. “Marcus is coordinating the castle assault from the tactical center.”
Marcus. I remembered that name from Clarissa’s reports - one of the Guild’s senior operatives, known for his ruthlessness and tactical skill.
“Clarissa, can you secure this floor?” I asked.
She materialized from the shadows, her daggers still gleaming with dark energy. “Already done. I’ve disabled their communication systems and blocked the exits. No one’s getting in or out without our permission.”
“Excellent. Bright, how are the castle’s defenses holding?”
“Still stable,” she replied, though I could see the strain of maintaining remote control in her expression. “But Argent reports increasing pressure on the outer perimeter. We need to move quickly.”
We made our way to the staircase, leaving the surrendered Guild members under Clarissa’s watchful eye. The building’s interior was a maze of corridors and rooms, but my enhanced senses could track the magical signatures of the remaining defenders.
[Alert: Multiple hostiles detected on floors two through five. Magical traps detected on stairwells and major corridors.]
‘Can you map the trap locations, ’face?’
[Response: Mapping in progress. Integration enhancement allows for detailed magical analysis. Trap locations identified and marked.]
I shared the trap locations with Bright and Clarissa through our magical connections, and we began our ascent. The Guild had prepared well - magical snares, explosive runes, and concealed crossbow mechanisms were scattered throughout the building. But with my enhanced perception and our coordinated teamwork, we navigated through them with minimal difficulty.
The second floor held a dozen Guild fighters who had barricaded themselves behind overturned furniture and magical barriers. They opened fire the moment we appeared, filling the air with crossbow bolts, throwing knives, and magical attacks.
But we were no longer the same team that had fled the city days ago. Bright’s magical shields deflected their attacks while simultaneously launching counterstrikes. Clarissa moved through their defenses like smoke, appearing behind their lines to disable key defenders. And I… I felt like I was finally becoming what I was meant to be.
My enhanced combat abilities allowed me to engage multiple opponents simultaneously. I could dodge attacks that should have been impossible to avoid, strike with precision that defied physics, and coordinate magical and technological abilities in ways that left our enemies stunned and confused.
“This is impossible,” one of the Guild fighters gasped as I disarmed him with a move that combined technological precision with magical enhancement. “You’re just one person!”
“No,” I replied, helping Bright maintain a protective barrier while Clarissa flanked their remaining forces. “I’m part of a team. And we’re here to end this.”
The third floor was where we encountered serious resistance. Marcus had prepared a kill zone - a large room with multiple levels, concealed firing positions, and magical enhancements that amplified his forces’ abilities. Twenty Guild fighters, all of them experienced and well-equipped, waited for us behind prepared defenses.
“Aegis!” Marcus called out as we entered the room. “I was wondering when you’d show up. Did you really think you could just walk in here and take back what we’ve claimed?”
“I think I can do whatever’s necessary to protect my friends and family,” I replied, scanning the room for tactical advantages. “And I think you’ve made a serious mistake by threatening them.”
“Have I?” Marcus laughed. “Look around, golem. You’re outnumbered four to one, in a room designed to kill intruders. Your castle is under attack, and your precious arm is locked away where you’ll never find it. What exactly do you think you can accomplish here?”
[Alert: Magical signature detected in sub-basement. High probability that target location has been identified.]
‘My arm?’
[Response: Confirmed. The magical signature matches your missing limb’s energy pattern.]
I smiled, and I could see Marcus’s confidence waver slightly. “I think I can show you what happens when you threaten the people I care about.”
The battle that followed was unlike anything I’d experienced before. The Guild fighters were skilled and coordinated, using the room’s layout to maximum advantage. But we had something they didn’t - perfect teamwork enhanced by magical connections that allowed us to coordinate our actions with supernatural precision.
Bright’s magical attacks created openings that Clarissa exploited with her enhanced stealth abilities. My technological systems provided tactical analysis that guided our movements, while my magical abilities allowed me to counter their spells and barriers. We moved through the room like a single organism, each of us covering the others’ weaknesses and amplifying their strengths.
But Marcus was no ordinary Guild operative. His magical abilities were formidable, and he had clearly prepared specifically for fighting someone like me. Dark energy wreathed his hands as he launched attack after attack, each one designed to disrupt either my magical or technological systems.
“You think your little integration makes you invincible?” he snarled, dodging one of my counterstrikes. “I’ve been studying you, golem. I know your weaknesses.”
He was right - he had studied me. His attacks were precisely targeted at the connection points between my magical and technological systems, trying to create feedback loops that would disable my enhanced abilities.
But he had studied the old me. The me from before the integration.
[Alert: Hostile is attempting to disrupt magical-technological interface. Countermeasures activated.]
‘Show him what we can really do, ’face.’
[Response: With pleasure.]
I stopped trying to avoid Marcus’s attacks and instead embraced them. Each spell he cast at me was absorbed by my enhanced systems and converted into additional power. The feedback loops he was trying to create became amplification circuits that made me stronger.
“Impossible,” he breathed as his most powerful attack was not only deflected but actually seemed to make me more powerful.
“You studied the wrong version of me,” I said, and struck back with everything I had.
The combined magical-technological attack I unleashed was beyond anything I’d ever achieved before. It wasn’t just powerful - it was precise, controlled, and perfectly calibrated to disable rather than destroy. Marcus’s magical defenses crumbled like paper, and he collapsed unconscious to the floor.
The remaining Guild fighters, seeing their leader defeated, quickly surrendered.
“The sub-basement,” I said to Bright and Clarissa. “My arm is down there.”
We made our way through the building’s lower levels, past storage rooms filled with stolen goods and holding cells that made my anger burn even hotter. The Guild wasn’t just a criminal organization - they were slavers and worse.
The vault was exactly where Archive had predicted, behind multiple layers of security that would have been impossible to breach without magical and technological capabilities. But with my enhanced abilities, the locks and wards were merely obstacles to overcome rather than insurmountable barriers.
And there, in a stasis field at the center of the vault, was my missing left arm.
It looked exactly as I remembered it - metallic bronze with intricate runic markings, the fingers slightly curled as if reaching for something. But seeing it separated from my body, treated like a trophy or commodity, filled me with a rage that made my chest orb pulse with dangerous energy.
“Easy,” Bright said, placing a calming hand on my shoulder. “We’re here now. We can fix this.”
“How do we get it out of the stasis field?” I asked.
“Carefully,” she replied, studying the magical containment system. “The field is designed to preserve organic and magical materials indefinitely, but disrupting it incorrectly could cause damage.”
[Alert: Stasis field analysis complete. I can interface with the containment system and safely extract the arm.]
‘Do it, ’face.’
My technological systems interfaced with the vault’s magical technology, and I felt the stasis field respond to my commands. Slowly, carefully, the energy barrier dissolved, and my arm was freed from its magical prison.
Bright immediately began preparing the reattachment ritual, drawing complex magical circles on the vault floor while Clarissa kept watch for any remaining threats. The process was similar to what we’d done in the Source chamber, but more focused and precise.
“This is going to hurt,” Bright warned as she positioned my arm next to my shoulder. “The magical and technological systems need to reintegrate, and that process is… intense.”
“I can handle it,” I said, though I braced myself for what was coming.
The reattachment process was agony. Every nerve, every magical circuit, every technological connection had to be rebuilt and synchronized. I felt like I was being torn apart and rebuilt at the cellular level, my consciousness fragmenting and reforming as my body became whole again.
But through it all, I could feel Bright’s presence supporting me, her magical energy helping to guide the process and ease the pain. And I could sense Clarissa’s protective vigilance, ready to defend us if any threats appeared.
[Alert: Reintegration process complete. All systems nominal. Left arm functionality restored to full capacity.]
I flexed my newly reattached fingers, marveling at the sensation of being complete again. The arm felt different than before - stronger, more responsive, more integrated with my magical abilities. The workshop’s enhancements had somehow been applied to it even while it was separated from my body.
“How do you feel?” Bright asked, exhaustion clear in her voice from the magical effort required for the reattachment.
“Whole,” I said simply. “For the first time since I woke up in this world, I feel completely whole.”
[Alert: Magical communication from Argent. Castle defenses are under heavy assault. Immediate return recommended.]
“Time to go,” I announced. “The castle needs us.”
But as we prepared to leave the vault, alarms began sounding throughout the building. Red magical lights flashed in the corridors, and I could hear the sound of running feet and shouted orders.
“They know we’re here,” Clarissa said grimly.
“Let them come,” I replied, testing my newly reattached arm’s combat capabilities. “I’m tired of running from these people.”
What followed was a running battle through the Merchant’s Exchange building as Guild reinforcements poured in from hidden entrances and secret passages. But we were no longer the desperate fugitives who had fled the city. We were a coordinated team with enhanced abilities and a clear mission.
My complete body allowed me to fight with a level of coordination and power I’d never achieved before. Both arms working in perfect synchronization, magical energy flowing through every limb, technological systems operating at peak efficiency. I felt like I was finally becoming the Shield I was meant to be.
Bright’s magical abilities seemed limitless as she cleared entire corridors with devastating attacks while simultaneously maintaining protective barriers around our team. Her connection to the Source, combined with our magical bond, allowed her to channel power on a scale that left our enemies stunned and terrified.
Clarissa moved through the building like a force of nature, her enhanced abilities allowing her to appear and disappear at will, striking with supernatural precision and vanishing before counterattacks could reach her. She had become the perfect infiltrator, capable of neutralizing threats before they even knew she was there.
We fought our way to the building’s roof, where Bright had prepared our extraction method - a magical platform that would carry us directly back to Castle Mir. But as we reached the rooftop, we found ourselves facing one final challenge.
A figure in dark robes stood waiting for us, magical energy crackling around him in patterns that made my enhanced senses recoil in recognition. This wasn’t just another Guild mage - this was something else entirely.
“So,” the figure said in a voice that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, “the Shield finally shows his true power. How… interesting.”
[Alert: Magical signature analysis indicates this entity is not entirely human. Recommend extreme caution.]
‘Devourer agent?’
[Response: High probability. The energy patterns match the cat’s descriptions of their influence.]
“You’re one of them,” I said, my newly complete body tensing for battle. “One of the Devourers’ agents.”
“I am what your kind might call a facilitator,” the figure replied. “I help prepare the way for my masters’ arrival. And you, Shield, have been most helpful in that preparation.”
“What do you mean?”
“Did you think your actions here were random? That the Guild’s interest in you was mere coincidence?” The figure laughed, a sound like breaking glass. “Every battle you’ve fought, every power you’ve displayed, every connection you’ve forged - all of it has been observed, analyzed, and reported. My masters know exactly what you are capable of now.”
The implications hit me like a physical blow. We hadn’t been fighting to protect ourselves - we’d been performing for an audience, demonstrating our abilities for entities that wanted to destroy everything we cared about.
“But don’t despair,” the figure continued. “Your performance has been most illuminating. My masters are… impressed. They look forward to testing themselves against the legendary Shield when they arrive in force.”
“When?” I demanded.
“Soon,” the figure said, and began to dissolve into shadow. “Very soon. Enjoy your victory, Shield. It may be your last.”
The entity vanished, leaving us alone on the rooftop with the weight of its revelation. We had won the battle, but the war was just beginning.
“The extraction platform,” Bright said urgently. “We need to get back to the castle.”
We stepped onto her magical transport, and I felt the familiar sensation of teleportation magic building around us. But as we prepared to depart, I took one last look at the Merchant’s Exchange building - now partially destroyed from our battle, with Guild members fleeing in all directions.
We had accomplished our mission. My arm was reattached, the immediate Guild threat was neutralized, and we had sent a clear message about the consequences of threatening our friends and family.
But the Devourer agent’s words echoed in my mind as we teleported back to Castle Mir. The real enemy had been watching us all along, learning our capabilities, preparing for a confrontation that would determine the fate of this world and possibly others.
As we materialized in the castle’s main hall, where Argent was coordinating the defense against the Guild’s assault, I realized that everything we had done so far had been preparation for what was coming next.
The Shield was complete, but the true test was yet to begin.
[Alert: Castle defenses holding, but enemy forces are regrouping for a major assault. Recommend immediate tactical assessment.]
‘Let them come, ’face. We’re ready for whatever they can throw at us.’
[Response: Agreed. We are no longer the broken construct that awakened in these ruins. We are the Shield, and we will protect what matters.]
I looked around at my assembled allies - Bright, exhausted but determined; Clarissa, bloodied but unbroken; Argent, stalwart and ready for battle; Archive, wise and supportive. This was my family, my team, my reason for fighting.
The Devourers thought they knew what I was capable of. They were about to learn how wrong they were.
The real war was about to begin.
The teleportation magic deposited us in Castle Mir’s main hall just as Argent’s massive sword cleaved through a Guild assassin who had somehow breached the outer defenses. Steam vented from the brass knight’s joints in sharp bursts as he spun to face us, his yellow eyes blazing with what I was learning to recognize as relief.
“Master Aegis,” he announced formally, though I could hear the emotion beneath his mechanical voice. “Your return is most timely. The enemy has committed their full force to this assault.”
I flexed both hands - both hands! - feeling the incredible sensation of being physically complete for the first time since awakening in this world. My newly reattached left arm moved with perfect synchronization, the magical and technological systems fully integrated. Every gesture, every movement felt natural and powerful in ways I’d never experienced before.
[Alert: All systems operating at peak efficiency. Physical integration complete. Magical-technological synthesis optimal.]
‘How do I feel different, ’face?’
[Response: Your power output has increased by approximately sixty percent with the addition of your left arm. More importantly, the symmetry allows for perfect magical energy flow throughout your entire body. You are now operating as Kendranen Mir intended.]
“Status report,” I said to Argent while scanning the hall for immediate threats. The ancient stone walls showed scorch marks from magical attacks, and several of the decorative tapestries were smoldering.
“Forty-seven Guild operatives attempted to breach the castle’s defenses,” Argent reported with mechanical precision. “Thirty-one have been neutralized or captured. Sixteen remain active, primarily concentrated in the eastern courtyard and the lower levels.”
“Casualties on our side?”
“None. The castle’s defensive systems, combined with Archive’s tactical coordination and my combat protocols, have proven highly effective.”
Bright swayed slightly beside me, the magical exhaustion from maintaining the castle’s defenses remotely while participating in our assault finally catching up with her. I caught her arm - my left arm moving instinctively to support her - and felt the rightness of the gesture in a way that went beyond the physical.
“I’m okay,” she said, though her voice was strained. “Just need a moment to recover. Maintaining magical connections across that distance while fighting… it’s more draining than I expected.”
“You were incredible,” I told her, meaning every word. “We all were. But now we need to finish this.”
Clarissa was already moving toward the eastern corridor, her shadow-enhanced daggers gleaming with dark energy. “The remaining Guild members are probably trying to find another way into the lower levels. They know about the workshop now - they’ll want to destroy it or claim it for themselves.”
[Alert: Multiple magical signatures detected in the sub-basement levels. Hostile intent confirmed.]
‘They’re going after the workshop?’
[Response: Affirmative. Recommend immediate response to protect critical infrastructure.]
“Archive,” I called to the magical book, which had positioned itself on a stone pedestal where it could coordinate the castle’s defenses. “Can you seal the workshop?”
“Already done,” Archive replied in Mr. Patterson’s familiar voice. “However, the seals will not hold indefinitely against a determined magical assault. The workshop contains too much valuable magical and technological equipment to risk its destruction.”
I felt a surge of protective anger that made my chest orb pulse with brilliant blue light. The workshop wasn’t just a room full of equipment - it was Bright’s gift to me, Kendranen Mir’s legacy, and the foundation of everything we were building together. The idea of Guild thieves destroying it or stealing its secrets was intolerable.
“Then we end this now,” I declared. “No more running, no more defensive measures. We take the fight to them and finish it permanently.”
“Aegis,” Bright said, her hand finding mine - and again, the sensation of her fingers intertwining with both my right and left hands felt like a completion I’d never known I was missing. “Are you sure? We’ve accomplished what we came for. Your arm is reattached, the immediate threat is neutralized. We could simply wait for them to exhaust themselves against the defenses.”
“No,” I said firmly. “The Devourer agent was right about one thing - every battle we fight teaches our enemies about our capabilities. But it works both ways. I’ve learned something too.”
“What’s that?” Clarissa asked, pausing in her preparations to look at me with curious eyes.
“I’ve learned that I’m tired of being reactive. Tired of waiting for threats to come to us, tired of letting other people set the terms of engagement.” I looked around at my assembled allies - my family, really. “We have the power to end this threat permanently. Not just drive them off, not just defeat this particular assault, but send a message that will prevent future attacks.”
[Alert: Philosophical analysis suggests this represents a significant evolution in your tactical thinking. Previous patterns showed preference for defensive and protective strategies.]
‘I’m still protective, ’face. But sometimes the best protection is making sure your enemies can’t threaten your family again.’
[Response: Acknowledged. This approach aligns with optimal strategic doctrine for entities of our capabilities.]
Argent’s steam vents released a long, satisfied hiss. “A direct assault strategy. Most efficient. I approve of this tactical evolution.”
“The workshop’s defenses will hold for another twenty minutes,” Archive calculated. “More than sufficient time for a coordinated strike against the remaining hostiles.”
Bright straightened, her magical exhaustion seeming to fade as her determination returned. “If we’re doing this, we do it right. Full coordination, maximum efficiency, minimal risk to ourselves.”
“Agreed,” I said. “But this time, we’re not just fighting to survive or escape. We’re fighting to win decisively.”
We made our way through the castle’s corridors with practiced efficiency, our enhanced teamwork allowing us to move as a single unit. My complete body felt incredible - every step perfectly balanced, every gesture flowing naturally from one arm to the other, magical energy circulating through my entire form without the disruption caused by my missing limb.
The Guild operatives had indeed penetrated the lower levels, but they were struggling against the castle’s ancient defenses. Magical traps that had protected these halls for decades were activating in sequence, creating a gauntlet of obstacles that would have been challenging even for experienced thieves.
But these weren’t ordinary thieves. As we approached the workshop level, I could see that several of the intruders were wearing the distinctive gear of Guild specialists - magical equipment designed specifically for bypassing protective enchantments and technological security systems.
“They came prepared,” Clarissa observed grimly. “This wasn’t a random assault. They’ve been planning this for a while.”
[Alert: Magical analysis indicates the hostile equipment includes items specifically designed to counter golem-based defenses. They have been studying our capabilities extensively.]
‘Just like the Devourer agent said. We’ve been performing for an audience.’
[Response: Correct. However, their intelligence is based on our previous capabilities. They have not accounted for your recent integration and completion.]
I smiled, feeling a confidence that went beyond mere bravado. “Then let’s show them what they missed.”
The battle that followed was unlike any of our previous encounters. With my body complete and my abilities fully integrated, I could fight with a level of coordination and power that felt almost supernatural. My left and right arms worked in perfect harmony, one deflecting attacks while the other struck back, magical energy flowing seamlessly between them to create devastating combination attacks.
But more than that, our team coordination had reached a new level. Bright’s magical abilities complemented my technological systems perfectly, creating hybrid attacks that were more powerful than either of us could achieve alone. Clarissa’s enhanced stealth allowed her to appear exactly where she was needed, striking with precision that eliminated threats before they could endanger the rest of us.
The Guild specialists, despite their preparation and specialized equipment, found themselves completely outmatched. Their anti-golem weapons were designed to exploit the weaknesses of incomplete constructs, not the fully integrated magical-technological hybrid I had become.
“Impossible,” one of them gasped as I deflected his specialized disruptor weapon with my left hand while simultaneously channeling a magical counterattack through my right. “The intelligence reports said you were missing critical components!”
“Intelligence reports can be outdated,” I replied, and demonstrated just how outdated his information was.
The combined magical-technological attack I unleashed was a perfect fusion of both aspects of my nature. Technological precision guided magical energy with surgical accuracy, disabling his equipment without causing permanent harm to the person wielding it. It was exactly the kind of controlled, protective response that felt right for who I was becoming.
Within minutes, the remaining Guild operatives were either unconscious or surrendering. The workshop’s defenses had held, the castle was secure, and the immediate threat was eliminated.
But as we stood among the defeated intruders, I realized that something fundamental had changed. Not just in my physical capabilities, but in my understanding of my role in this world.
“We need to talk,” I said to my assembled team. “All of us. About what comes next.”
We gathered in the workshop, that incredible space that Bright had created for me. Surrounded by the magical and technological wonders that represented our combined potential, I felt the weight of destiny settling on my shoulders - but for the first time, it felt like a weight I was strong enough to bear.
“The Devourer agent was right,” I began. “We’ve been performing for an audience, demonstrating our capabilities for entities that want to use that knowledge against us. But that means they’ve also revealed something about themselves.”
“What do you mean?” Clarissa asked.
“They’re not ready yet,” I explained. “If they were, they wouldn’t need to study us through intermediaries. They wouldn’t need to use Guild operatives and magical surveillance. They’d just attack directly.”
[Alert: Logical analysis confirms this assessment. The Devourers’ reliance on intelligence gathering suggests they are still in a preparation phase.]
“Which means we have time,” Bright said, understanding immediately. “Time to prepare, time to grow stronger, time to build our defenses.”
“Exactly. But more than that - we have the opportunity to take the initiative. Instead of waiting for them to come to us when they’re ready, we can prepare to take the fight to them.”
Archive’s eye opened wide on his cover. “A preemptive strategy. Risky, but potentially highly effective if executed properly.”
“The castle can serve as our base of operations,” I continued, the plan forming in my mind as I spoke. “We have the workshop for developing new capabilities, the Source for magical power, Archive for knowledge and research. Everything we need to become strong enough to face whatever the Devourers can throw at us.”
“And the Guild?” Clarissa asked. “They’re not going to just give up after today.”
“No, but they’re also not going to be the same threat they were before. We’ve demonstrated that we can strike at their strongholds, defeat their specialists, and protect our territory. Some of them will want revenge, but others will decide we’re too dangerous to antagonize.”
Argent’s steam vents released a thoughtful hiss. “A reputation-based deterrent strategy. Effective against rational opponents.”
“The irrational ones we’ll deal with as they come,” I said. “But our primary focus needs to be on the larger threat. The Devourers represent an existential danger not just to us, but to this entire world. Maybe multiple worlds.”
Bright moved closer to me, and I felt the magical connection between us pulse with shared determination. “Kendranen Mir created you to be the Shield,” she said. “But I think he also created all of us - me, Archive, Argent, even the circumstances that brought Clarissa into our lives - to support you in that role.”
“A comprehensive support system,” Archive agreed. “Each of us contributing different capabilities to create a whole greater than the sum of its parts.”
I looked around at my assembled family - because that’s what they were, really. Not just allies or friends, but the people who had become the most important part of my existence. Bright, with her incredible magical power and unwavering loyalty. Clarissa, with her courage and determination to be better than her past. Archive, with his vast knowledge and patient teaching. Argent, with his steadfast protection and mechanical precision. Even Bud, who had been quietly loyal through every challenge we’d faced.
“Then that’s what we do,” I decided. “We build something here. Not just a hiding place or a fortress, but a center of learning and preparation. We study magic and technology, we develop new capabilities, we gather allies and resources. And when the Devourers finally make their move, we’ll be ready for them.”
[Alert: Long-term strategic planning protocols activated. This represents a significant evolution from previous reactive patterns.]
‘It feels right, ’face. Like this is what I was meant to do all along.’
[Response: Agreed. The integration process has not only completed your physical form, but also clarified your purpose and role. You are becoming the Shield in truth, not just in name.]
Over the following days, we began implementing our new strategy. The workshop became a center of constant activity as Bright and I worked together to develop new magical-technological hybrid systems. My complete body allowed for experiments and enhancements that had been impossible before, and the results were remarkable.
Clarissa threw herself into magical training with Archive, her natural intelligence and street-smart instincts making her an surprisingly effective student. She was developing abilities that went far beyond simple thievery - strategic thinking, tactical analysis, and magical techniques that complemented her enhanced physical capabilities.
Argent coordinated the castle’s defenses and began training programs for potential allies. His mechanical precision and vast tactical knowledge made him an ideal instructor for anyone who might join our cause in the future.
And Archive… Archive became the heart of our intelligence gathering and strategic planning efforts. His vast knowledge and analytical capabilities allowed us to begin mapping the larger threats we faced and developing countermeasures for each one.
But perhaps most importantly, we began reaching out to potential allies. Not everyone in this world was content to let criminal guilds and cosmic entities dictate their fate. There were other mages, other technological innovators, other people with the courage and ability to stand against the darkness.
The response was encouraging. Word of our victory over the Thieves Guild had spread, and it had inspired others who had been living in fear of criminal organizations and corrupt magical authorities. They began arriving at Castle Mir in small groups - refugees, rebels, independent mages, and technological innovators who wanted to be part of something larger than themselves.
Each new arrival brought skills, knowledge, and perspectives that strengthened our growing community. The castle, which had been empty and abandoned for so long, began to feel alive again.
But it was during one of our evening planning sessions, about a week after the Guild assault, that we received our most significant visitor.
I was working with Bright in the workshop, testing a new magical-technological interface that would allow me to channel spells through my technological systems with even greater efficiency, when Archive’s voice echoed through the chamber.
“Aegis, you have a visitor. Someone you should meet immediately.”
“Who is it?” I asked, not looking up from the delicate calibration work I was performing.
“Someone who claims to have information about Kendranen Mir’s true fate.”
That got my attention. I looked up to see a figure standing in the workshop doorway - an elderly woman with silver hair and eyes that seemed to hold depths of knowledge and experience that reminded me of Archive’s vast wisdom.
“My name is Lyralei,” she said in a voice that carried the authority of someone accustomed to being obeyed. “I was Kendranen Mir’s teacher, and I’ve been searching for his final creation for a very long time.”
[Alert: Magical signature analysis indicates this individual possesses power levels comparable to or exceeding Bright’s capabilities. Recommend extreme caution.]
But something about her presence felt familiar, comforting even. There was a quality to her magical aura that reminded me of…
“You’re the cat,” I said suddenly, the realization hitting me like a physical blow.
She smiled, and for a moment her eyes flashed with the same piercing blue I remembered from my dreams. “Very good. Yes, I am the one who has been guiding you, though not always in the form you expected.”
“But you warned me not to trust the cat,” I said, remembering Kendranen Mir’s projection. “You said she was nobody’s friend.”
“Kenny always was overly dramatic,” Lyralei said with fond exasperation. “What he meant was that I serve a larger purpose than individual friendships. I am bound by obligations that sometimes require me to make difficult choices, to withhold information or guidance when providing it might interfere with necessary growth and development.”
She moved into the workshop, and I could see Bright tensing beside me, ready to defend against any threat. But Lyralei’s presence felt more like a teacher arriving to check on a student’s progress than an enemy preparing for battle.
“You have done well,” she continued, looking around at the workshop’s magical and technological wonders. “Better than I dared hope when I first brought your consciousness to this world. You have not only survived and adapted, but you have begun to fulfill your true purpose.”
“Which is?”
“To be the Shield, yes, but more than that. To be the bridge between worlds, the protector of the connections that bind different realities together. The Devourers seek to consume not just this world, but the entire network of connected realms. You are the key to stopping them.”
[Alert: Metaphysical analysis suggests this individual is speaking truthfully about cosmic-level threats and responsibilities.]
“Why me?” I asked. “Why bring a dying teenager from another world to fight cosmic entities?”
“Because,” Lyralei said gently, “you were already dying. Your spirit was strong enough to survive the transition, but unattached enough to accept a new purpose. And because you had the right combination of technological understanding and magical potential to become what this world needed.”
She gestured to my complete form, my integrated magical and technological systems, my assembled allies. “Look what you have built in such a short time. A team of individuals who complement each other perfectly, a base of operations that combines the best of magic and technology, a growing network of allies and resources. This is exactly what we need to face the coming darkness.”
“We?” Bright asked, speaking for the first time since Lyralei’s arrival.
“Oh yes, my dear,” Lyralei said with a warm smile. “I’m not just here to deliver information and disappear again. The time for subtle guidance is over. The Devourers are accelerating their timeline, and we need to accelerate ours as well.”
She moved to the center of the workshop, and I felt magical energy building around her on a scale that made even Bright’s power seem small by comparison. “With your permission, I would like to enhance this facility. The workshop Bright created is remarkable, but it can be so much more.”
“What kind of enhancement?” I asked.
“The kind that will allow you to train not just your individual abilities, but your capacity to work as a team on a cosmic scale. The kind that will let you develop weapons and defenses capable of standing against entities that can devour entire worlds. The kind that will prepare you to be not just the Shield of this realm, but the Shield of all connected realms.”
I looked at Bright, at Clarissa, at Archive and Argent. Each of them nodded, their expressions showing the same determination I felt building in my own chest.
“Do it,” I said.
What followed was the most incredible magical working I had ever witnessed. Lyralei’s power flowed through the workshop, not changing its fundamental nature but amplifying every aspect of its capabilities. The magical forges became capable of creating artifacts that could function across multiple realities. The training areas expanded to include simulations of cosmic-level threats. The research facilities gained access to knowledge from dozens of connected worlds.
But most importantly, the workshop’s central integration chamber - the place where I had first achieved true unity between my magical and technological aspects - was transformed into something that could enhance not just individual capabilities, but team coordination on a level that transcended normal magical or technological limitations.
“This is incredible,” Bright breathed, looking around at the transformed space. “I can feel the connections to other realms, other sources of knowledge and power.”
“It’s what we’ll need,” Lyralei said simply. “The Devourers are not just powerful - they are experienced. They have consumed countless worlds, defeated countless defenders. Raw power alone will not be enough to stop them.”
“Then what will?” Clarissa asked.
“Unity,” Lyralei replied. “Perfect coordination between individuals who trust each other completely. The ability to combine different types of power in ways that create something greater than the sum of its parts. And most importantly, the willingness to sacrifice individual desires for the greater good.”
She looked directly at me as she said this last part, and I felt the weight of prophecy in her words. “The Shield’s greatest power is not in what it can destroy, but in what it can protect. Remember that when the time comes to make the hard choices.”
[Alert: Philosophical analysis suggests this represents a crucial insight into your ultimate role and responsibilities.]
‘I understand, ’face. This isn’t about being the strongest fighter. It’s about being the one who stands between the darkness and everything worth protecting.’
[Response: Acknowledged. This aligns with optimal strategic doctrine for entities tasked with cosmic-level protection responsibilities.]
As the workshop’s transformation completed, I felt a sense of completion that went beyond even the reattachment of my arm. This was what I had been building toward - not just personal wholeness, but the creation of something larger than myself. A team, a cause, a purpose that could stand against any threat.
“So what happens now?” I asked Lyralei.
“Now you train,” she said. “You learn to use these new capabilities, you gather more allies, you prepare for battles that will determine the fate of multiple worlds. The Devourers will not wait much longer to make their move, but they are not the only threat you will face.”
“What do you mean?”
“There are others who serve the darkness, willingly or unwillingly. Corrupted mages, fallen heroes, entire civilizations that have been turned to the Devourers’ cause. You will need to be ready to face not just monsters, but people who were once good and have been twisted by forces beyond their control.”
The implications of that statement settled over us like a heavy blanket. We weren’t just preparing to fight cosmic entities - we were preparing for a war that would pit us against people who might once have been allies.
“But you won’t face it alone,” Lyralei continued. “There are others like you in other realms, other Shields who have been prepared for this moment. When the time comes, you will fight together as part of something larger than any individual world’s defenses.”
She began to fade, her form becoming translucent as she prepared to depart. “I must go now. There are other preparations to make, other allies to gather. But I will return when you are ready for the next phase of your training.”
“Wait,” I called out. “What about Kendranen Mir? Is he really dead?”
Lyralei paused, her form solidifying slightly. “Kenny made a choice to sacrifice his physical existence to ensure your creation would succeed. But death is not always the end, especially for those who bind their essence to magical constructs and devoted students.”
She looked meaningfully at Bright, at Archive, at the workshop around us. “He lives on in everything he created, including you. And when the final battle comes, you may find that his sacrifice was not as permanent as it appeared.”
With that cryptic statement, she vanished, leaving us alone in the transformed workshop with the weight of cosmic responsibility settling on our shoulders.
But as I looked around at my assembled family - Bright with her limitless magical power and unwavering devotion, Clarissa with her courage and determination to be better than her past, Archive with his vast knowledge and patient wisdom, Argent with his steadfast protection and mechanical precision - I felt not fear, but anticipation.
We had been through so much together already. We had faced criminal organizations, corrupt magical authorities, and cosmic entities’ agents. We had overcome every challenge through teamwork, determination, and the willingness to sacrifice for each other.
The Devourers thought they knew what they were facing. They had studied us, analyzed our capabilities, prepared their strategies based on incomplete information.
They were about to learn how wrong they were.
[Alert: All systems optimal. Team coordination at maximum efficiency. Magical-technological integration complete. Ready for whatever challenges await.]
‘We’re ready, ’face. All of us.’
[Response: Agreed. We are no longer the broken construct that awakened in castle ruins. We are the Shield, complete and whole, surrounded by allies who have become family. Let the darkness come. We will be waiting.]
I flexed both hands, feeling the perfect balance and coordination of my complete form. My left arm moved in perfect synchronization with my right, magical energy flowing seamlessly through both, technological systems operating at peak efficiency.
For the first time since awakening in this world, I felt truly ready for whatever challenges lay ahead. Not because I was the strongest or the smartest or the most powerful, but because I was no longer alone.
I was the Shield, and I had found my purpose. Not just to protect this world, but to stand as a guardian between the darkness and everything worth preserving across all connected realms.
The real war was coming, but we would be ready for it.
Together.
[End of Book One]